The Litvinenko Inquiry

The Litvinenko Inquiry
bone marrow failure, multi-organ failure and the development of alopecia. Dr Cary
stated; “when you look at all these together, they provide clinical corroboration for the
fact that the deceased suffered acute radiation exposure due to ingestion of polonium
210”. 201
3.174 Third, Dr Cary noted the findings, made through analysis of samples taken both before
and after Mr Litvinenko’s death, that he had ingested a quantity of polonium 210. 202
3.175 Fourth, Dr Cary noted the findings of Dr Harrison and his colleagues (to which I shall
refer further below), to the effect that Mr Litvinenko had ingested a quantity of polonium
210 that was far in excess of known survivability limits.
3.176 Fifth, Dr Cary concluded:
“I am entirely satisfied that on the basis of both the calculated exposure of the
internal organs to radiation and the deceased’s downhill clinical course a cause of
death of acute radiation syndrome may be recorded.” 203
3.177 Sixth, Dr Cary listed a number of possibilities in relation to the final mode of death,
namely:
“(i) Due to bone marrow failure there was a final episode of sepsis, including as a
possibility due to fungal infection with this sepsis resulting in cardiorespiratory
arrest.
(ii) Due to metabolic consequences of organ failure (particularly the liver and
kidney) cardiorespiratory arrest occurred.
(iii) Due to primary effects of radiation on the heart itself an ultimately fatal heart
rhythm disturbance developed resulting in cardiorespiratory arrest.
(iv) A combination of some or all of the above.” 204
Dr Harrison and his colleagues
3.178 In one of his written reports, Dr Harrison explained the mechanism by which the alpha
particles emitted by polonium 210 cause damage within the human body. He said:
“Ionizing radiations, including gamma rays and alpha particles can kill cells by
damaging biological molecules within them, including DNA. Alpha particles are
particularly effective at killing cells because, although they only travel short
distances (a few cell widths), they deposit a lot of energy along their paths. They
can be thought of as atomic bullets, capable of killing at a cellular level. Enough
alpha particles will kill enough cells to cause gross tissue damage, organ failure
and death.” 205
3.179 Having ascertained (see above) that Mr Litvinenko had ingested approximately 4.4Gbq
of polonium 210, Dr Harrison was able to calculate the quantity of radiation that would
have been generated within Mr Litvinenko’s body, and to compare those figures with
201
Cary 2/64-66
202
Cary 2/66
203
INQ003002 (page 7); Cary 2/67
204
INQ003002 (page 7); Cary 2/67-68
205
INQ007633 (page 5)
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