37 years ago, a radioactive substance inside an abandoned medical device in Goiânia put more than 112,000 residents of the city at risk of radiation exposure.
A forgotten radioactive capsule was believed to be scrap metal by those who found it, leading to a chain of events that compelled over 112,000 individuals to undergo radiation screening, resulting in 4 fatalities, according to IFL Science.
The Goiânia Accident began when a private radiotherapy institute vacated and left behind a medical device containing cesium-137 without notifying the authorities. The radioactive device remained in place throughout the dismantling of the facility. Later, it was discovered by two teenagers who took it home in an attempt to disassemble it, exposing the hazardous components. According to preliminary reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the radioactive source was in the form of soluble and dispersible cesium chloride salt, contaminating the environment. This marked the onset of one of the most severe radiation accidents in history.
The medical device capsule that caused the Goiânia accident. (Photo: Flickr).
After the capsule was broken, the two teenagers began selling parts to scrap metal dealers, including the radioactive cesium-137, which glowed blue in the dark. The object attracted many relatives and friends who came to marvel at it. Subsequently, they excitedly brought home larger samples the size of a grain of rice. About 5 days later, people began experiencing their first symptoms. They encountered gastrointestinal issues but were unaware that these were due to radiation exposure. However, when a resident presented the capsule to public health authorities, the severity of the situation became apparent.
The local government had to requisition a stadium as a gathering place for those exposed to radiation and the injured. A total of approximately 112,000 people were monitored, with 249 individuals found to be contaminated either externally or internally. More than 20 people required hospitalization, and 4 individuals died from acute radiation syndrome.
Estimates suggest that the victims most severely affected received radiation doses ranging from 4.5 to 6 Gray (Gy). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an individual is at risk of developing acute radiation syndrome after exposure to 0.7 Gy, making the victims of the Goiânia incident some of the most heavily irradiated in history.
Blood tests from 110 individuals involved in the Goiânia accident revealed radiation levels from 0 to 7 Gy. Despite the existence of treatments for individuals exposed to cesium, the damage it inflicts on body tissues means that even survivors are at risk of developing illnesses later, including cancer. Research published in the journal Clinical Toxicology indicates that cesium-137 enters the body through ingestion or inhalation. This isotope emits beta and gamma radiation, both forms of ionizing radiation that destroy living tissue.
The Goiânia accident exemplifies how mishandling a medical radioactive device can lead to widespread contamination of an entire city. Such devices can pose a threat to human life for tens of thousands of years.
