Goiânia accident

Goiânia accident was a radioactive contamination incident that occurred in Goiânia, Brazil, in September 1987. The accident resulted from an old, unsecured radiotherapy source being taken from an abandoned hospital site, and subsequently handled by many people, leading to four deaths and serious radiation sickness for many others.

Background

The radioactive contamination incident occurred when a small radiotherapy unit was left behind in the partially demolished Instituto Goiano de Radioterapia (IGR), a clinic in Goiânia. The unit contained a small amount of highly radioactive cesium chloride, which was not properly secured.

The Incident

On September 13, 1987, two scavengers, Roberto dos Santos Alves and Wagner Mota Pereira, entered the abandoned clinic and removed the radiotherapy unit, not knowing what it was. They took it to Alves's house, where they began dismantling the equipment. In the process, they punctured the capsule containing the cesium chloride, allowing it to leak out.

The glowing substance attracted the curiosity of family members and neighbors. Over the next three days, many people were exposed to the radioactive material. It was not until September 29, when an employee of a local medical facility recognized the symptoms of radiation sickness, that the contamination was discovered.

Aftermath

The Goiânia accident resulted in four deaths and significant injuries to many others. The incident required a large-scale cleanup operation, involving the demolition of several houses, and the removal of topsoil from several sites. The cleanup operation was managed by Brazil's National Nuclear Energy Commission.

The Goiânia accident highlighted the dangers of inadequate security and control of radioactive materials. It led to changes in international regulations concerning the protection of such materials.

See also

• List of civilian radiation accidents
• Radiation poisoning
• Nuclear safety

References

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