epr-method (2003) - IAEA Publications - International Atomic Energy ...

Intentional contamination of food/products
Description
Actual or potential contamination of food and commercial products.
Potential hazards
Contamination of food/products resulting in significant exposure of large numbers of the public 102 is very unlikely.
However, there is a potential for significant exposure to small numbers (e.g. contamination of products on store
shelves) and to those working with or transporting the products/food. Contamination in excess of national and
international standards for commodities is possible. Allowing contaminated or potentially contaminated products in the
international or local distribution system could have large economic consequences. Excess cancers should not be seen
following this type of emergency, even if large amounts of radioactive material are involved
There can be significant adverse and inappropriate public reaction (see Element A11.2) and economic consequences if
public and financial institutions concerns are not promptly addressed.
Emergency response
Incident commander (lead first responder local officialnational official):
— Activate an integrated response (including law enforcement and radiological components) using
the ICS (see Appendix 13) under an incident commander to implement actions to reduce any
radiological, psychological, and economic impact.
— Ensure that all governmental agencies are informed of who is leading the response and that they
receive an explanation of the risk and their role.
— Take actions to prevent contaminated products from entering the distribution system – consider
cross contamination by use of common process or distribution systems. Keep people away from
and remove potentially contaminated food or products from public use until they have been
assessed.
— Track existing supplies through the distribution chain and recall all suspect products.
— Conduct national monitoring of potentially contaminated food, products and population to confirm
adequacy of controls.
— Prepare for hoaxes once the threat is publicly known.
— Monitor public response and deal with inappropriate behaviour (see Element A11.2).
— Make arrangements to dispatch a radiation assistance team (radiological assessor) to perform
monitoring and analyses (see Element A3.1).
— Provide measures to protect workers in the industry involved and emergency workers (including
law enforcement) and control their dose (see Elements A6.7, A6.10).
— Have the national competent authority notify potentially affected States and the IAEA if there are
indications that other States or their citizens may be affected (Transnational emergency - see
Element A2.15).
— If a lost or stolen dangerous source may be involved, implement, as appropriate, the action guide
for a Theft of a dangerous source.
— If significant public contamination is possible, implement, as appropriate, the action guide for
Public contamination.
— If serious overexposure is suspected, implement, as appropriate, the actions for Serious
overexposure.
— If a dangerous source is to be recovered, implement, as appropriate, the action guide for Recovery
of an uncontrolled dangerous source.
— Develop and implement a recovery and cleanupplan in order to return to normality(see Elements
102 Resulting in early health effects or warranting long term medical screening.
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