Radioactive substance spills at UW Medicine building

Thirteen people were exposed and 10 were admitted to Harborview’s emergency room.

  • By Wire Service
  • Saturday, May 25, 2019 12:34pm
  • Northwest

Associated Press

SEATTLE — UW Medicine employees might have to wait at least six more weeks to return to work at a building where a radioactive substance was spilled three weeks ago.

The Seattle Times reports a device called an irradiator, containing the radioactive material cesium-137, was being moved to a disposal site when the substance spilled on May 2.

The Times said the spill happened at the UW Medicine Harborview Medical Center Research & Training Building on First Hill.

Radiation was detected on the loading dock of the building.

Thirteen people were exposed and 10 were admitted to Harborview’s emergency room and discharged the next day.

UW Medicine spokesperson Susan Gregg says the public is not in danger. She couldn’t give a firm date for how long the cleanup will take.

Over the next seven to 10 days, about 200 researchers and staff are moving into other UW Medicine and University of Washington facilities and will remain there until the building reopens.

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