An employee at Los Alamos National Laboratory mishandling of a potentially hazardous radioactive substance has resulted in the contamination of four
separate locations. The incident which was disclosed in a July 27 press release indicated the substance in question was americium-241. Traces have
been found in homes in Colorado, Kansas, and the employees home in New Mexico. In addition a Pennsylvania laboratory where the substance was shipped
to. It is unclear if any employee or facility of FedEx which shipped the substance was contaminated as well. All involved are having their health
monitored as a result.
sfgate.com
The apparent mishandling of a potentially hazardous radioactive substance by an employee of the University of California-run Los Alamos National
Laboratory has resulted in contamination of sites in four states, according to a report released Monday.
Traces of the substance have been found in homes in Colorado and Kansas that the Los Alamos employee visited, his own home in New Mexico, and also at
the Pennsylvania laboratory where the employee apparently shipped a contaminated package via FedEx.
Los Alamos doctors are monitoring the health of the employee and five lab colleagues who might have been contaminated by the substance, radioactive
americium-241. So far, none show ill effects, lab officials said Monday.
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Its become pretty clear the University of California’s stewardship of Los Alamos needs to come to an end. Between the appalling security lapses and
now items like this, perhaps its time to give another group a chance to run the labs. That raises another question. How much of this type of material
is shipped every day? You would think that there would be regulations against shipping this type of hazardous material?
[edit on 8/9/05 by FredT]
[edit on 8/9/05 by FredT]
[edit on 8/9/05 by FredT]
