Investigation of radiological emergencies by the IPEN-CNEN/SP during the years 2001 to 2010

The Brazilian National Nuclear Energy Commission maintain, in each of its unities, a technical team for investigation and initial response to radiological and nuclear emergency situations which can occur outside of its installations. At the Sao Paulo state, Brazil, that task is accomplished by the Radioprotection Management (GRP) of the Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares, IPEN-CNEN/SP, Brazil. This paper shows the results obtained by the GRP, analysing which entities action the system, the nature of the event, the involved type of radiation source and the geographical distribution of occurrences in the state. During the period between 2001 and 2010, the GRP attended to 98 notifications, and the entity which the most action the system was the Fire Department. The radionuclide of most incidence was the Am-241, mainly because of radioactive lightning-arrester, followed of radionuclides used in nuclear medicine such as Mo-99/Tc-99m and I-131