CBRN event in Poland on Sat 16th May 2009

During a visit (11-15 May) at the Radioisotope Centre POLATOM producing radioactive substances - among others I-131 for medical purposes - an IAEA scientific visitor from Bangladesh became contaminated by I-131. Contamination of his hands and of his protection clothing was detected on 11 May at the exit of POLATOM’s controlled area - subsequently the person and his clothes were decontaminated. On his departure from Warsaw airport, activity of his luggage was detected. The person was requested to delay his departure for one day. Contaminated belongings were detected inside the suitcases by the CEZAR Emergency Centre. The maximum radiation dose rate due to contamination did not exceed 3-4 times background radiation. The personal paper notebook of the visitor was found to be contaminated but this was not detected prior to his planned departure. Therefore some of the I-131 contamination (mainly on clothes and other private belongings of the person) may have been due to this notebook. Estimated dose received by the person was in the range 0.5 – 1.2 mSv.