title: Radiological accident and incident in Thailand: lesson to be learned.
abstract: Radioactive materials in Thailand have been used in medicine, research and industry for more than 50 y. Several radiological accident and incidents happened in the past 10 y. A serious one was the radiological accident that occurred in Samut Prakan, Thailand in 2000. The serious radiological accident occurred when the (60)Co head was partially dismantled, taken from that storage to sell as scrap metal. Three victims died and 10 people received high dose from the source. The lesson learned from the radiological accident in Samut Prakan was to improve in many subjects, such as efficiency in Ministerial Regulations and Atomic Energy Act, emergency response and etc. In addition to the serious accident, there are also some small incidents that occurred, such as detection of contaminated scrap metals from the re-cycling of scrap metals from steel factories. Therefore, the radiation protection infrastructure was established after the accident. Laws and regulations of radiation safety and the relevant regulatory procedures must be revised.
authors.affiliation: Radioactive Waste Management Center, Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology, 16 Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road, Chatuchack, Bangkok 10900, Thailand. nanthavan@tint.or.th
authors.forename: Nanthavan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ya-anant
authors.forename: Kanokrat
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tiyapun
authors.forename: Kittiphong
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saiyut
mesh_terms: D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D009678:Nuclear Energy; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011835:Radiation Protection; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011850:Radioactive Waste / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013785:Thailand; D018505:Waste Management / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D011850:Radioactive Waste