The Handbook of Hazardous Materials Spills Technology
As an all-new update to the classic Hazmat reference book, this text addresses issues such as International law and regulations, risk assessment, biological effects, spill modeling, and more.
TABLE OF CONTENTS The Handbook of Hazardous Materials Spills Technology
Part 2: Nuclear Emergencies
Chapter List
- Chapter 9: Response to Nuclear or Radiological Emergencies
T. McKenna, International Atomic Energy Agency
Vienna
J. F. Lafortune, International Safety Research Ottawa, Ontario , Canada
R. Martin?i?, J. Stefan Institute Ljubljana, Slovenia
E. Buglova, Research and Clinical Institute of Radiation Medicine and Endocrinology, Ministry of Health Minsk, Belarus
P. F. L. Heilbron, Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission, Botafogo Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
9.1 INTRODUCTION
9.1.1 The Nature of Radiation Hazard
Thousands of devices containing potentially dangerous amounts of radioactive material are used in the world. However, the safety record for the use of radioactive materials is incredibly good. As shown in Table 9.1 there are only about two deaths or serious injuries worldwide each year from accidental radiation exposure. This is because most countries have rules requiring that dangerous amounts of radioactive material (and chemicals) be carefully controlled at all times.
| Fatalities | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Location | Radiation source | Worker | Public |
| 1945 | U.S.A. | Critical assembly | 2 | |
| 1958 | Yugoslavia | Experimental reactor | 1 | |
| 1958 | U.S.A. | Critical assembly | 1 | |
| 1960 | U.S.S.R. | Suicide Cs-137 | 1 | |
| 1961 | U.S.S.R. | Submarine reactor | 8 | |
| 1961 | U.S.A. | Small military power reactor | 3 | |
| 1961 | Switzerland | Tritiated paint | 1 | |
| 1962 | Mexico | Lost radiography source | 4 | |
| 1963 | China | Seed irradiator | 2 | |
| 1964 | West Germany | Tritiated paint | 1 | |
| 1964 | U.S.A. | Uranium recovery plant | 1 | |
| 1972 | Bulgaria | Suicide | 1 | |
| 1975 | Italy | Food irradiator |
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