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Book reviews

The radiological accident in Gilan. By IAEA, pp. 46, 2002 (IAEA, Vienna, Austria), € 15.00 ISBN 92-0-110502-9

The radiological accident in Samut Prakarn. By IAEA, pp. 52, 2002 (IAEA, Vienna, Austria), € 15.50 ISBN 92-0110902-4

Investigation of an accidental exposure of radiotherapy patients in Panama: report of a team of experts, 30 May – 1 June 2001. By IAEA, pp. 135, 2001 (IAEA, Vienna, Austria), € 31.25 ISBN 92-0-101701-4

The criticality accident in Sarov. By IAEA, pp. 46, 2001 (IAEA, Vienna, Austria), € 15.26 ISBN 92-0-100101-0

One of the main functions of the International Atomic Energy Agency has been to investigate radiation accidents. A report summarizing the accident is then published, so that the conclusions and recommendations may be disseminated widely.

In recent years there have been a number of radiation accidents. These are:

1. Gilan, Iran; This involved a nuclear plant worker who picked up a metallic object and put it in his pocket. He was unaware that it was a 185 GBq ¹⁹²Ir industrial radiography source. He subsequently suffered from bone marrow syndrome and deterministic injuries to his hand, torso and thigh.
   
2. Samut Prakarn, Thailand; A ⁶⁰Co teletherapy unit was dismantled and subsequently sold as scrap metal. A number of individuals who stripped the unit for scrap material and some workers at the junk yard were exposed. A total of 10 individuals were exposed. Most experienced burns, nausea, vomiting and epilation. One individual had an amputation and three others died.
   
3. Panama; This incident centred upon a treatment planning system for radiotherapy. An oncologist had requested that five blocks should be included in the treatment field. However, the treatment planning system was limited to four blocks/field. Hospital workers discovered that multiple treatment blocks could be entered into the computer system as one. This resulted in a treatment time being indicated which was somewhat in excess of what it should be. A total of 28 prostate and cervical cancer cases received a higher dose. Eight patients died, of which five were considered to be radiation related.
   
4. Sarov, Russian Federation; A criticality accident occurred in a nuclear facility. It occurred during a routine procedure in the plant and resulted in the death of the over-exposed individual approximately 3 days later.
   

The accident in Panama has its origins in a combination of events; weaknesses in quality assurance, lack of written procedures, heavy workload, and a lack of multi-disciplinary team working. In addition, the software installations on the treatment planning system were unclear and should warn the user about using untested methods.

These incidents stress the importance of robust regulatory systems and applying the concept of quality assurance. These books are an interesting read. They will be of particular interest to those who might have to deal with an emergency.

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