Radioactive substances go missing

25 Jun 2009

The Department of Health (DH) received notification today (June 25) from Global Medical Solutions (GMS), a medical supply company, about the missing of a pack of iodine-125 seeds when it was transshipped through Hong Kong from Shanghai by China Eastern Airlines on June 23.

It was reported that the package which contained 60 seeds of iodine-125 in two lead containers could not be located when GMS tried to collect the package at the airport for re-export today.

GMS has reported the case to the Hong Kong Police.

The iodine-125 seeds concerned were encapsulated and sealed in accordance with international safety requirements.

The total radioactivity of the iodine-125 seeds concerned is 818 MBq which comes under category 5 of the system of Categorization of Radioactive Sources issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency. It is, therefore, unlikely to cause significant adverse health effects in case of accidental exposure.

Any people who find the package should not open it and should report to the Police immediately.

As radioactive substances, their possession and use in Hong Kong are controlled under the Radiation Ordinance (Cap 303) and their importation into Hong Kong is controlled by the Import (Radiation)(Prohibition) regulations (Cap 60K).

The importer is required to be covered by a licence issued under Cap 60K and the possessor or user is required to be covered by a licence issued under Cap 303.

DH will closely monitor the development of the case.