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http://www.wpxi.

com/news/news/local/scrap-contaminated-radioactive-material-shipped-be/nqX2t/
accessed 2-26-2016

Posted: 1:19 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016

Scrap contaminated with radioactive


material shipped from Beaver Falls facility

A Beaver Falls scrapyard is working to develop a plan to decontaminate its facility, along with sites in
Ohio to which scrap contaminated with radioactive material was shipped.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection was notified Tuesday that the
contaminated recycled scrap was shipped from PSC Metals Inc. in Beaver Falls to two facilities in
Ohio, according to a news release. A radium-226 source of unknown origin was accidentally
shredded with other materials, then shipped to processing facilities in Ohio, the release said.
Its not clear where the radium came from, but it glows and was used in the late 1960s in light up
alarm clocks, watches and jewelry.
Readings were taken at the Beaver Falls scrapyard by a team from the DEPs Radiation Protection
Program, according to the release. Elevated readings were found on one large metal shredder, which
has been isolated, and on gloves used by two workers.
Additional testing is being done by the DEP to ensure that there was no skin contamination.
Preliminary tests on the workers who operated the machine showed no contamination.

The release said all other employees were also tested for contamination, and results are pending.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has been notified and the contaminated scrap metal has been
contained. Officials said it does not pose a health risk to employees or the general public, and there is
no indication that there is any additional contamination at or outside the scrapyard property.
PSC Metals is working with a private contractor to develop a plan to quickly decontaminate the
Beaver Falls scrapyard and the Ohio sites. DEP's Radiation Protection team has locked down the
scrapyard and will continue to take follow-up readings and monitor the situation as needed, the
release said.

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