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Goiânia Disaster: Brazil's Devastating 1987 Nuclear Incident

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The Goiânia nuclear disaster, one of the most tragic accidents of the last century, took place in Goiânia, Brazil, on September 13, 1987. This incident stands as a grim reminder of how dangerous radioactive materials can be when handled improperly. Despite happening just a year after the infamous Chornobyl disaster, the Goiânia incident remains relatively unknown outside of Brazil. Time magazine ranks it among the world’s worst nuclear accidents.

The disaster began when a hospital moved to a new location, leaving behind a piece of radiotherapy equipment containing highly radioactive cesium chloride. The machine, about the size of a billiard ball, was made of lead and steel and contained a cesium-137 isotope with a half-life of 30 years. This substance was so radioactive that even from a distance of one meter, it emitted a dangerous dose of radiation. Unfortunately, the hospital administration failed to properly dispose of the machine, setting the stage for the tragedy.

After the hospital closed, homeless individuals began staying in the abandoned rooms, unaware of the deadly objects nearby. A couple of months later, two scrap dealers, Roberto Dos Santos Alves and Wagner Mota Pereira, found the radiotherapy machine while searching for valuable materials. Fascinated by the dull blue glow coming from the device, they took it home, thinking they had found something valuable. They even tried to break it open, unaware of the grave danger it posed.

For days, the scrap dealers experienced nausea and other symptoms of radiation poisoning but dismissed it as a food-related illness. Eventually, they managed to break a small part of the device, releasing the cesium chloride powder inside. Mistaking the glowing powder for something harmless, they played with it, thinking it was gunpowder. Unknowingly, they were exposing themselves to lethal levels of radiation.

After tinkering with the radioactive dust for several days, the scrap dealers sold the machine to a local scrapyard owner named Devair Ferreira. Like the dealers, Devair was captivated by the glowing blue powder. He showed it to his friends and family, who were equally fascinated. Devair even considered mixing the cesium powder with epoxy to create a decorative blue ring for his wife. Tragically, this curiosity would have fatal consequences for the entire family.

While handling the cesium powder, Devair’s brother Ivo accidentally spilled some on the carpet at home. Ivo's 6-year-old daughter, Leide, found the glowing powder and spread it on her arms and legs, thinking it was beautiful. She unknowingly exposed herself to extreme levels of radiation, which led to severe radiation poisoning. Meanwhile, her father tried to make a cross tattoo on his arm using the radioactive powder. The entire family was being poisoned without realizing it.

It wasn’t until September 28, weeks after the initial exposure, that Devair’s wife noticed everyone around her was suffering from severe nausea and diarrhea. She initially thought it was due to something they had eaten, but after some thought, she suspected the strange glowing powder might be the cause. Without realizing the danger, she collected the cesium powder in a plastic bag and took it to the hospital, traveling by public bus. As she carried the radioactive material in an open bag, everyone on the bus was unknowingly exposed to dangerous levels of radiation.

At the hospital, Dr. Paulo Roberto Monteiro quickly suspected that the powder was radioactive. However, lacking proper expertise in radiology, he left the bag outside in the hospital garden to prevent further exposure. Thankfully, this quick decision reduced the spread of radiation in the hospital, but by this point, the damage had already been done.

For days, the scrap dealers experienced nausea and other symptoms of radiation poisoning but dismissed it as a food-related illness. Eventually, they managed to break a small part of the device, releasing the cesium chloride powder inside. Mistaking the glowing powder for something harmless, they played with it, thinking it was gunpowder. Unknowingly, they were exposing themselves to lethal levels of radiation.

After tinkering with the radioactive dust for several days, the scrap dealers sold the machine to a local scrapyard owner named Devair Ferreira. Like the dealers, Devair was captivated by the glowing blue powder. He showed it to his friends and family, who were equally fascinated. Devair even considered mixing the cesium powder with epoxy to create a decorative blue ring for his wife. Tragically, this curiosity would have fatal consequences for the entire family.

While handling the cesium powder, Devair’s brother Ivo accidentally spilled some on the carpet at home. Ivo's 6-year-old daughter, Leide, found the glowing powder and spread it on her arms and legs, thinking it was beautiful. She unknowingly exposed herself to extreme levels of radiation, which led to severe radiation poisoning. Meanwhile, her father tried to make a cross tattoo on his arm using the radioactive powder. The entire family was being poisoned without realizing it.

It wasn’t until September 28, weeks after the initial exposure, that Devair’s wife noticed everyone around her was suffering from severe nausea and diarrhea. She initially thought it was due to something they had eaten, but after some thought, she suspected the strange glowing powder might be the cause. Without realizing the danger, she collected the cesium powder in a plastic bag and took it to the hospital, traveling by public bus. As she carried the radioactive material in an open bag, everyone on the bus was unknowingly exposed to dangerous levels of radiation.

At the hospital, Dr. Paulo Roberto Monteiro quickly suspected that the powder was radioactive. However, lacking proper expertise in radiology, he left the bag outside in the hospital garden to prevent further exposure. Thankfully, this quick decision reduced the spread of radiation in the hospital, but by this point, the damage had already been done.

The Goiânia disaster was a clear case of negligence. From the hospital’s failure to secure the radiotherapy machine to the scrap dealers’ handling of the radioactive material, 249 people were exposed to radiation. Of those, four people died, and the number of cancer cases in Goiânia skyrocketed in the aftermath. Fortunately, Brazil’s National Atomic Energy Agency acted swiftly, evacuating the neighborhood, demolishing contaminated homes, and removing the top layer of soil to contain the radiation.

The Victims of the Goiânia Disaster

Several individuals suffered fatal consequences from the incident. One of the most heartbreaking cases was that of Leide Das Neves Ferreira, the 6-year-old daughter of Ivo Ferreira. She was one of the most heavily exposed victims, and despite efforts by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to save her, she passed away on October 23, 1987, after suffering severe internal damage.

Devair’s wife, Gabriela Maria Ferreira, who had reported the situation to the hospital, also died one month after coming into contact with the cesium powder. Although she played a crucial role in stopping the spread of radiation, the exposure was too great for her to survive.

Another victim, Israel Baptista Dos Santos, worked at Devair’s scrapyard and is believed to have inhaled some of the radioactive dust. He passed away just six days after being admitted to the hospital. Similarly, Admilson Alves De Souza, an apprentice at the scrapyard, succumbed to lung and heart damage from radiation poisoning on October 18.

Despite receiving a dangerous dose of radiation, Devair Ferreira himself survived. Experts believe this was due to the radiation being concentrated in specific parts of his body, allowing healthier areas to help fight the effects of the exposure.

Aftermath and Accountability

In the aftermath of the disaster, the hospital’s management faced severe penalties for their negligence. The chief physician was sentenced to 17 years in prison, and the hospital was ordered to pay $1.3 million in compensation. Additionally, the hospital provided free physical and psychological treatment for all radiation victims in Goiânia.

The Goiânia disaster remains a stark reminder of the dangers of mishandling radioactive materials. Despite the rapid response by authorities, the negligence that led to this tragedy caused immense suffering and long-term damage. Today, the incident serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of proper care and handling of hazardous materials to prevent future catastrophes.

In Goiania, dosimeters showed that radiation was still several times higher than normal in 2008, giving us more detailed information about what 10 grams of cesium isotope can do.

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