In September 1987, in the Brazilian city of Goiânia, two scrap collectors walked into an abandoned cancer clinic and carried off a machine that would set off one of the largest radiological cleanups in history. This is the story of how a glowing powder passed from hand to hand, and why nobody thought to be afraid of it. The clinic had been empty since 1985, abandoned after a legal dispute. Inside sat a heavy cylinder of lead and steel. Roberto dos Santos Alves and Wagner Mota Pereira saw only metal worth selling. On September 13 they loaded it into a wheelbarrow. The head of the machine weighed approximately 120 kilograms, and they hauled it about half a kilometre to Roberto's home that same day. Within hours both men were vomiting. They blamed something they had eaten. Behind the lead sat radioactive cesium, and nobody had told them.
The Goiânia Glowing Powder
In 1987 scavengers in Goiânia opened a glowing cesium capsule, starting a disaster that went undetected for 16 days.
The Heavy Cylinder
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Goiânia accident?
In September 1987 two scavengers in Goiânia, Brazil, broke open a stolen cancer-therapy machine and exposed a powder of radioactive cesium chloride. The source was missing for 16 days before the danger was recognized, leading to one of the largest radiological cleanups in history.
Why did the powder glow blue?
The glow most likely came from the intense radiation of the cesium chloride salt interacting with moisture or air. People who saw it found it beautiful and magical. The glow was actually a sign of lethal energy.
What is an orphan source and why do the rules about them matter?
An orphan source is radioactive material that has fallen out of regulatory control, like the unit left in the abandoned Goiânia clinic. The accident led to strict international regulations for such sources. The aim is to keep abandoned radioactive material from ending up in the hands of people who cannot know what it is.
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