Event Notification Report for September 21, 2008
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
09/20/2008 - 09/21/2008
EVENT NUMBERS
44519
Other Nuclear Material
Event Number: 44519
Rep Org: MALLINCKRODT INC
Licensee: MALLINCKRODT INC
Region: 3
City: MARYLAND HEIGHTS State: MO
County:
License #: 02-04206-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JAMES SCHUH
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN
Licensee: MALLINCKRODT INC
Region: 3
City: MARYLAND HEIGHTS State: MO
County:
License #: 02-04206-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JAMES SCHUH
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN
Notification Date: 09/25/2008
Notification Time: 17:00 [ET]
Event Date: 09/21/2008
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/25/2008
Notification Time: 17:00 [ET]
Event Date: 09/21/2008
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/25/2008
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(i) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(i) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X
Person (Organization):
JAMNES CAMERON (R3)
REBECCA TADESSE (FSME)
ILTAB VIA E-MAIL
JAMNES CAMERON (R3)
REBECCA TADESSE (FSME)
ILTAB VIA E-MAIL
IODINE-131 CAPSULE IN SHIELDED CONTAINER MISSING DURING SHIPMENT
Mallinckrodt reports that four Iodine-131 capsules were packaged and shipped to a consignee in Panama City, Panama on September 20, 2008. Each of the four capsules contained 18.7 millicuries of I-131 and were package separately in approximately 20 lb shielded containers. The shipment departed on a flight from St. Louis Airport which arrived in Miami, Florida at which point the packages were transferred to another flight that departed Miami and arrived at Panama City at approximately 1900 EDT on September 20, 2008. The tracking Airway Bill for the shipment indicates that only 3 of the 4 capsule packages arrived at Panama City. The licensee has requested a trace on the missing package. In addition, the airlines warehouses in St. Louis, Miami, and Panama City have been searched. The licensee is also pursuing a search of the customs warehouse in Panama City.
At this time, the licensee considers that one of the I-131 capsules is missing in shipment. There is minimal risk to the public as long as the capsule remains in the shielded container. The short half-life of the I-131 would put the current content of the capsule at about 11 millicuries. The licensee continues to work with the shipping airline to attempt to locate the package.
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks.
Mallinckrodt reports that four Iodine-131 capsules were packaged and shipped to a consignee in Panama City, Panama on September 20, 2008. Each of the four capsules contained 18.7 millicuries of I-131 and were package separately in approximately 20 lb shielded containers. The shipment departed on a flight from St. Louis Airport which arrived in Miami, Florida at which point the packages were transferred to another flight that departed Miami and arrived at Panama City at approximately 1900 EDT on September 20, 2008. The tracking Airway Bill for the shipment indicates that only 3 of the 4 capsule packages arrived at Panama City. The licensee has requested a trace on the missing package. In addition, the airlines warehouses in St. Louis, Miami, and Panama City have been searched. The licensee is also pursuing a search of the customs warehouse in Panama City.
At this time, the licensee considers that one of the I-131 capsules is missing in shipment. There is minimal risk to the public as long as the capsule remains in the shielded container. The short half-life of the I-131 would put the current content of the capsule at about 11 millicuries. The licensee continues to work with the shipping airline to attempt to locate the package.
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks.