THE 1987 RADIATION DISASTER IN GOIANIA

TOPIC TO BE COVERED
Overview of the accident
Risk Assessment of the issue
Risk management and risk communication strategies of
the issue
Vulnerable group
Jamaican Government regulations on hazardous waste
and agency
Conclusion
Question and Answer
OVERVIEW OF THE ACCIDENT
The Goinia accident was a radioactive contamination
accident in central Brazil.
On September 13, 1987, an old nuclear medicine source
was stolen from an abandoned hospital.
The contamination killed 4, injured 28, and produced
over 200 cases of detectable radiation poisoning.
The machine was used to treat cancer patients.
RISK ASSESSMENT OF THE ISSUE
The cesium137 tele-therapy unit was abandoned in a
dismantled building.
National Nuclear Energy Commission was not notified.
Person rubbed their skin with the cesium.
The cesium was transported by bus to the Public Health
Dept..
RISK MANAGEMENT
Health Dept. opened the citys
Olympic stadium to isolate
patients and screening others for
contamination.
The Tropical Diseases Hospital,
police, fire, and civil defense
staff were alerted.
Residents in areas where dose
rates were in excess of a
threshold were evacuated.
Concrete was used to cover the
source remnants.
Several houses were demolished.
The hand of a patient exposed
to the cesium radiation
RISK COMMUNICATION
Communication was made through the:
Media Reports
Grapevine
Well-documented report of contamination were
made.
VULNERABLE GROUP
Residents around main areas of contamination, the
Vigilancia Sanitdria and Junkyard I.
The purchaser relatives, neighbours and friends
JAMAICAN GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS
ON HAZARDOUS WASTE AND AGENCY
The Natural Resources Conservation (Hazardous Wastes)
and (Control of Trans-boundary Movements)
Regulations, 2002.
National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA)
manages all environmental problems in Jamaica.
CONCLUSION
The Goinia Radiation Incident was the most serious event
ever recorded that involved a medical radiation source.