Idaho lab accident may stem from damaged container

[ensho]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/11/09/national/a101554S82.DTL


All 16 workers exposed to radiation at the Idaho National Laboratory were allowed to go home following the incident, which officials Wednesday said likely resulted from decades-old plutonium powder that escaped its damaged stainless-steel shell.

After a follow-up lung scan Wednesday, one worker still tested positive for radioactive material in the lungs and was receiving extra attention at the lab's medical facility. Seven of the employees tested positive for external skin contamination, and six had positive nasal swipes.

All 16 workers will undergo weeks of testing, including urine analysis to evaluate their level of exposure. Plutonium, if it remains in the body, can cause cell damage.

Lab health director Sharon Dossett said none of the exposed workers was exhibiting outward symptoms of radiological exposure. They were allowed to go home because they posed no threat to others, she said.

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[PoliticAverse]

1. Americium-241, an isotope commonly found in nuclear waste

and in many home smoke detectors.

Sorry to see one person apparently got it in their lung.