1956 June 25
Dr. Charles L. Dunham, Director
Division of Biology and Medicine
Atomic Energy Commission
1901 Constitution Avenue
Washington 25, D. C.
Dear Chuck:
I report here briefly on an incident in order that DBM's first
information is not from the Honolulu Star-Bulletin or some other
sensational journal.
On June 22, a plutonium alloy instrumentation source released
some plutonium oxides in a trailer because of a loss in the
integrity of its jacket. The contamination was not discovered
until the evening of the following day, June 23.
Radsafe and decontamination people worked far into that night.
They found the stuff in the trailer, on about 15 people, and in
the clothing, bedding, and living quarters of these people,
(Nothing was found in the mess Halls.)
Standard decontamination
procecures were instituted -- showers for the men, versene and
citric acid for the quarters, laundry for the lightly contaminated
clothing, and the deep six for bedding, mattresses, and heavily
contaminated clothing,
ak weekly WAS
Three 2h-hour urine specimens will be obtained,from the 15 contaminated individuals plus a few who were also in the area and
wished it. It is the impression of the people here that of the
15, only 2 or 3 might show urinary platonium.
The specimens are
being sent to LASL (Shipman) for assay, and results of the first
group, which has been collected, should be known in about a week,
The industrial hygiene aspect of the incident is being headed up
by one Leo Chelius of LASL, who has had considerable experience
with alpha spills, He thinks that no exposures exceeding maximum
permissible will be revealed.
The event is not related to the test program, and no dispatch has
been sent. An incident report will probably be mailed to DiA in
due time.
9000131
*
1
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IME, HEALTH SHES
Sincerely yours,
miso
Thomas S, Ely
San Francisco
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