Officials: Radium poses no risk at Air Force facilities

  • Published
  • By Tech Sgt. Carl Norman
  • Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) --  Official test results from six Air Force facilities indicate building occupants and visitors are not at risk from radioactive material left over from luminous paints used at the bases 60 years ago.

Air Force Institute for Operational Health experts from Brooks City-Base, Texas, examined facilities at six bases. They were here and at Hill Air Force Base, Utah; Robins AFB, Ga.; Tinker AFB, Okla.; Fairchild AFB, Wash; and the former Griffiss AFB, N.Y.

The team focused on these bases because people assigned there used radium paint and repaired items coated with the radioactive substance during the World War II era. Radium was used in paint to make aircraft instrument markings glow in the dark, officials said.

This maintenance was done in rooms officially designated as "luminous paint units." The team also checked the buildings for radon, a byproduct of radium decay.

"Radium is a naturally occurring element found at low levels in soil, water, rocks and coal," said Maj. Kevin Martilla, Air Force Materiel Command radiation programs chief. "Radiation-exposure levels were not expected to be much greater than exposures from radium found naturally in the environment and building materials. (Air Force officials) confirmed this through this investigation."

According to the study’s report, investigators found fixed residual radium at more than 15 locations on the former radium paint room floors and several associated areas. Major Martilla said this has been absorbed into building materials, such as flooring and baseboards, and does not present a significant hazard unless disturbed through invasive activities like demolition or cutting.

Investigators also found removable residual radium in disconnected exhaust ductwork in the ceiling crawl space above the luminous paint unit at Robins and in a disconnected exhaust fan area at Griffiss.

"Removable" residual radium is loose radium that presents a hazard if disturbed and subsequently ingested or inhaled.

In both cases, the ductwork and fans were already disconnected and access to the areas was restricted. These areas did not, and still do not, present a hazard to people, Major Martilla said.

"There is no significant risk from the residual radium found in these facilities," the major said. "Both (workers) and the public are protected due to the inaccessible nature of the contamination and the associated control by base environmental and occupational health personnel."

Elevated radioactivity, which is not dangerous to the public, was detected in five of the six former luminous paint units investigated, according to the report. Tinker's room was cleared.

Although radiological exposures under current conditions are below federal guidelines and limits, investigators said cutting into drains, sewer lines or through concrete flooring in some of the contaminated systems could cause exposures to exceed those levels.

"Base bioenvironmental and civil engineers will conduct follow-up actions for these facilities under standard … environmental-management procedures, including any necessary sampling or cleanup," Major Martilla said. "The Air Force considers worker and community health and safety to be of utmost importance and attempts to prevent health, safety and environmental issues from arising. But when they do, we respond promptly … and will take the necessary corrective actions." (Courtesy of AFMC News Service)