Two Los Alamos workers contaminated

Contact: Jim Danneskiold, jdanneskiold@lanl.gov, (505) 667-1640 (03-105)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Aug. 8, 2003 -- Two Los Alamos National Laboratory employees were contaminated during routine inventory work on Tuesday afternoon at the Plutonium Processing Facility at Technical Area 55.

The two workers from the Plutonium 238 Science and Engineering Group were taking inventory of older cans of plutonium stored in the facility. They had completed inventory of two shelves and monitored themselves for contamination after each, and found none. While inventorying the third shelf, a continuous air monitor alarm sounded and the pair left the room.

They observed no leaks or other visible defects on the cans they were inventorying.

Radiation control technicians helped the pair remove their protective coveralls and gloves and monitored them for skin and nasal contamination. Preliminary results showed skin contamination on the first employee’s head, neck, shoulders and arms, and on the second worker’s head. Both showed nasal contamination, an indication that they may have inhaled plutonium.

Following decontamination, both employees were placed on precautionary bioassay, and thus will submit waste samples regularly so that laboratory tests can determine whether plutonium has entered their bodies, and at what levels. Accurate analysis of bioassay tests will require several weeks and could continue for months if plutonium levels warrant it.

Both employees returned to work in non-radiation areas.

"Naturally, we are concerned whenever our workers are contaminated, no matter what the level," said Steve Yarbro, leader of the Nuclear Materials Technology Division. "We will work closely with the Department of Energy to understand exactly what happened and take steps to ensure it doesn’t recur."

There was no possibility of public exposure. The DOE and other agencies were informed of the incident immediately and DOE has begun an investigation.

The Plutonium 238 Science and Engineering Group manufactures, tests and conducts surveillance of heat sources and radioisotopic thermoelectric generators used to heat and power space probes and for national security applications. It is the only group in the DOE complex that can handle plutonium 238 oxide, metal and solutions in substantial quantities in unencapsulated forms.

Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) of the U.S. Department of Energy and works in partnership with NNSA's Sandia and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories to support NNSA in its mission.

Los Alamos develops and applies science and technology to ensure the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear deterrent; reduce the threat of weapons of mass destruction, proliferation and terrorism; and solve national problems in defense, energy, environment and infrastructure.