radiation accident radiation accident occurred thailand january february accident happened stored radiation source recovered scrap metal collectors worker subsequently dismantled container exposing nearby radiation following weeks exposed developed symptoms radiation sickness eventually sought medical attention thailand nuclear regulatory agency notified doctors came suspect radiation injury seventeen days initial exposure sent emergency response team locate contain radiation source estimated activity eventually traced owner investigations found failure ensure secure storage radiation source root cause accident resulted people hospitalized radiation injury died potentially significant exposure people background synthetic radioactive half life years highly penetrating gamma rays commonly radiation source equipment hospital setting industrial uses device involved accident unit manufactured imported thailand licensed installed radiation source involved replacement installed initial radioactive activity time accident activity estimated decayed licensing nuclear material import export possession use thailand regulated peace working body known principle licensing process involve annual safety lack personnel resources properly regulatory control strictly enforced hospital retired unit acquired new thai agent old unit source returned original german manufacturer stopped producing canadian supplier original manufacturer consequently hospital sold old unit licensed unit storage hospital informed transfer inspection found units warehouse licensed storage single unit lease warehouse terminated subsequently returned licensed unit moving units unused car park owned parent company car park fence breached nearby residents regularly entered play football areas notified transfer licensed unit mention remained orphan sources accident january radiation therapy unit containing radiation source acquired scrap collectors claimed bought strangers scrap metal took home planning later february associates attempted metal kilogram lead cylinder held steel unit source hammer managed crack men took metal piece scrap metal district asked worker cut open cylinder torch cylinder cut open smaller cylindrical metal pieces held source capsule fell worker retrieved pieces kept unaware source capsule lead cylinder returned scrap collectors complete day men present cylinder opened scrap collectors employees began feel ill experiencing scrap collectors succeeded taking lead cylinder apart took parts sell day employees continued feel sick following week february owner believing metal causing illness asked scrap collector smaller metal pieces thrown away mid february symptoms involved deteriorating symptoms included burn wounds swollen hands fever hair loss scrap collectors went february admitted day employees admitted february owner husband admitted february owner mother maid lived street entered began feel ill stray dog seen died patients admitted surgical ward admitted medical ward showing low white blood cell count reviewing cases february doctors realized symptoms likely caused radiation exposure notified response receiving sent officers investigate met doctors patients hospital shortly noon february questioning owner searched cylindrical metal pieces initially suspected radiation source found radioactive headed noted high levels radiation approached late evening entrance measured radiation equivalent dose hour decided request additional assistance recognizing event accident organized emergency response team manage situation conjunction local public health civil defense authorities conducted contamination radiation level surveys found contamination radiation dose rate high near source kept getting close determine source surveys locate source continued night immediate vicinity evacuation deemed unnecessary operations began afternoon following day february planning clear way lead wall placed help shield operators radiation scrap metal pieces near source removed tool large pieces improvised attached metre bamboo rod smaller ones high range radiation dose rate probe screen metal pieces screen ultimately determine exact location source team wait cloud cover reduce properly source capsule finally retrieved shortly midnight placed shielded container identified gamma estimated activity source transferred storage headquarters subsequent surveys found radiation returned normal background levels time informed units car park separate investigating team found units assembly missing confirmed origin source units removed temporary storage february reported incident sent team experts february assist management situation treatment injured casualties total people admitted hospital radiation sickness scrap collectors employees owner husband mother maid people working estimated received radiation gray patients ultimately referred received care patients developed white blood cells developed burns scrap collector finger patients workers owner husband ultimately died infection months exposure addition casualties people living metres potentially exposed different levels radiation physical exams blood tests provided nearly half people sought medical attention radiation received personnel working recover radiation source exceed measured individual public reaction aftermath accident subject intense news coverage origin poorly stored radioactive source traced charged possessing radioactive substances permission fined advocacy wants non governmental advocacy group later filed class action lawsuit behalf victims later ruled favour ordering pay ordered pay total media reports accident reporters commented negatively emergency response team operation taking matter radiation hazard seriously lacking training bbc told officials searching scrap metal radioactive waste sticks wearing cotton gloves cloth face masks defended team report noting included experienced personnel expertise dealing high radiation fields control known contamination innovative means achieve rapid recovery source commented lead worn members response team appropriate use situation offer adequate protection radiation public concern accident grew information education limited arose nature radiation hazards residents near buddhist temple protested prevented victims believing body spread radiation despite assurances contrary report noted main contributing factors accident difficulties disposal radiation sources limited oversight capacity transfer disused source approval moving sources location lack warnings device article published medicine commented omission occurred medical users returned obsolete units insecure storage invited theft called provisions safe return verified disposal significant radioactive sources stated national action needed cope regulatory problem orphan sources maintaining sources national registers legal enforcement compliance regulations accident similar events prompted evaluate effectiveness radioactive hazard warning symbol symbol displayed head handling device aware meaning written warnings thai developed new symbol serve intuitive warning large sources radiation new symbol published intended accompany internal components devices containing dangerous sources prevent persons thailand substantial efforts prevent occurrences months following accident labour activists trade unions workers lobbying creation independent health safety institute social critics pointed accident prior disasters toy factory fire trend country rapid resulted increasing health environmental hazards poor regulations lack official willingness tackle issue similar incidents occurred thailand injuries june sealed radioactive source found scrap metal sold scrap dealer dealer recognized symbol notified responded found leak radiation contamination determine origins equipment august recycling factory notified piece scrap metal set gate alarm found piece metal contained sources concluded originated use lightning
Samut Prakan radiation accident