Radioactive Leak Reported In West Palm Beach

January 31, 2005

Area Reopens Following Scare

POSTED: 4:31 pm EST January 26, 2005

UPDATED: 6:09 pm EST January 26, 2005

A malfunction in a radioactive testing device closed down part of

downtown West Palm Beach Wednesday afternoon.

Sky10 was overhead after the device was reported to have leaked a

higher than acceptable level of radioactivity near the courthouse.

The fire department couldn't get into the area to check out reports of

the leak because of the possibility of radioactive contamination.

Hazardous material crews were sent in to check the area.

The downtown from Quadrille Boulevard east to Olive Avenue and from

Gardinia Street south to Evernia Street was closed and was evacuated

for a short time.

Normal radiation levels are from 12 to 25 rems (the unit used to

measure radioactivity). A Geiger counter at the location of the leak

showed a reading of 95 rems, considered low-grade.

HazMat crews determined that the leak was emitting a lower level of

radiation than originally suspected, and the area was reopened by 5:30

p.m.

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