Brazilian radioactive powder release
In September 1987, an accidental release of radioactive powder occurred in Goiânia, Brazil, when individuals dismantled an old radiation therapy machine and inadvertently exposed the public to cesium-137. This incident resulted in the contamination of hundreds, leading to four fatalities. The discovery of the radioactive material began when two men found the abandoned machine, which contained a lead canister that was opened without understanding the risks involved. The bright blue powder inside captivated many, leading to widespread distribution and play among children.
As symptoms of radiation poisoning emerged, a significant medical response was initiated, and health professionals treated numerous contaminated individuals. The incident prompted a critical examination of Brazil's handling of radioactive waste and the responsibilities of various government agencies. Controversy arose over experimental treatments for the severely affected, highlighting the challenges faced by medical personnel in managing radiation exposure. The Goiânia accident not only underscored the need for stringent safety measures regarding radioactive materials but also left a lasting impact on public perception and health protocols in Brazil.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Brazilian radioactive powder release
THE EVENT: Accidental release of radioactive powder in Goiania, Brazil
DATES: September-October, 1987
When radioactive powder was released accidentally in Goiania, hundreds of people were contaminated, four of whom died. The incident raised the issue of responsibility for the disposal of radioactive waste.
On September 13, 1987, two men found an old radiation-therapy machine in an abandoned medical clinic in Goiania, a Brazilian state capital with a of one million people. When they took the machine apart, they found a cylindrical lead container inside, which they sold to a local junk dealer. Unaware that the canister contained radioactive cesium 137, an of cesium used in the treatment of cancer, the junk dealer opened the canister to investigate the curious blue light visible inside. He shared his discovery with friends, who were fascinated by the blue powder and the shimmer it made on their skin. The powder was rapidly distributed throughout the as people gave samples to friends as gifts. Children played with it as if it were a new toy. Symptoms of radiation poisoning began days later.
Radiation destroys the reproductive mechanisms of cells, affecting to the greatest extent those cells that divide the most rapidly. These include bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract, skin, and hair cells. Effects include burns, hemorrhaging, and, because bone marrow cells are involved in the immune response of the body, decreased white blood cell count, with consequent susceptibility to infections.
A team of doctors was dispatched to the area, and helicopters equipped with detection equipment determined the “hot spots” in the city. Tons of materials were found to have traces of the powder, including furniture, buses, money, and animals. The doctors found that 244 people had been contaminated with doses up to 600 rads (1 rad is roughly equivalent to seven chest X rays) and immediately hospitalized 54 people. The patients were thoroughly washed to remove any excess cesium that may still have been on their skin, and they were fed Prussian blue, a compound known to complex with cesium and block its further into the body. The doctors treated infections with antibiotics and hemorrhaging with blood-clotting factors. The Brazilian government enlisted the aid of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Radiation Emergency Center Training Sites (REACTS), a World Health Organization unit that responds to radiation incidents in the Western Hemisphere.
Some controversy arose over the use of an experimental treatment involving granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on severely ill patients. GM-CSF is one of five hormones that increase the production of white blood cells in bone marrow. The treatment is used in cancer patients because it offsets the effects of radiation and chemotherapy, allowing the use of larger doses. The six patients treated with GM-CSF in Brazil represented the worst cases of contamination. Four of them died, but the other two seemed to respond well to the treatment. By the end of the year, twenty-eight people remained hospitalized with radiation sickness, but there were no further fatalities.
The Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission came under strong criticism for the accident, which caused widespread panic among the citizens of Goiania and other cities in Brazil. There was confusion regarding which government agency had the responsibility to license, monitor, and ensure proper disposal of radioactive in the country. The Brazilian Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labor were also implicated as negligent of their responsibilities with regard to the of radioactive materials.
Bibliography
Friis, Robert H. “Ionizing and Nonionizing Radiation.” In Essentials of Environmental Health. 3rd ed. Sudbury, Mass.: Jones and Bartlett, 2018, pp. 181-206.
Gusev, Igor A., Angelina K. Guskova, and Fred A. Mettler. Medical Management of Radiation Accidents. 2d ed. Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press, 2001.
Suchanek, Norbert. "The Blue Powder Entranced. Then It Killed." Beyond Nuclear International, 17 June 2018, beyondnuclearinternational.org/2018/06/17/the-blue-powder-entranced-then-it-killed/. Accessed 16 July 2024.
Yard, Charles Richard. “Lost Radiation Sources: Raising Public Awareness About the Hazards Associated with Industrial and Medical Radiography Sources.” Journal of Environmental Health 58, no. 10 (1996).