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I-97-47 May 1, 1997
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has terminated a New York veterinarian's license to use radioactive materials, barred him from NRC-licensed activities for one year and proposed a fine of $4,000 against him for alleged violations of agency requirements. The violations stem from the use of radioactive seeds to treat horse leg injuries and diseases at several New Jersey locations.
Dr. Roy Sadovsky of Floral Park, N.Y., possessed an NRC license that allowed him to implant radioactive seeds in horses only at the Meadowlands Race Track in East Rutherford, N.J., or at the Showplace Farm and Gaitway Farm in Millstone Township, N.J. But during NRC inspections conducted last summer, it was determined Sadovsky was using gold-198 seeds at an unauthorized location, the White Birch Farm in Allentown, N.J.
This took place on 15 occasions between 1992 and 1996, despite the fact the veterinarian had been cited by the NRC for that violation in January 1992, and even though he had informed the agency in February 1992 he would cease such activities. Although Sadovsky contended he submitted a license amendment to allow the use of materials at White Birch Farm, the NRC found this request was not submitted until January 1995.
In addition to that violation, the NRC found Sadovsky committed several others, including:
Failure to secure licensed materials from unauthorized removal or access. Approximately 120 millicuries of gold-198 were stored in his unlocked vehicle on September 5, 1996.
Improper transportation of radioactive materials, including failure to use the required packaging, failure to apply a radioactive materials shipping label and failure to describe the materials on the shipping paper.
Failure to provide individual monitoring devices to workers who assisted in the use of radioactive materials, and to ensure those devices were used.
The conducting of operations with licensed materials in a manner that caused dose rates in an unrestricted area to exceed 2 millirem in any one hour, resulting in workers potentially receiving exposure in excess of NRC guidelines.
The radiation level from the quantity of gold-198 typically used by Sadovsky was approximately 2.5 rem per hour at 10 centimeters (4 inches). When implanted in horses, the legs of the treated animals produced radiation levels of more than 200 millirem per hour at a distance of 30 centimeters (12 inches). The average American receives slightly more than 300 millirem per year from background radiation, from such sources as the sun, food and drink, and soil.
Edward L. Jordan, the NRC's deputy executive director for regulatory effectiveness, program oversight, investigations and enforcement, wrote in a letter to Sadovsky that the violation involving the deliberate use of licensed material at an unauthorized location is "of particular concern because the regulatory program is based on licensees acting with integrity and communicating with candor."
"The remaining violations are also of significant concern," Jordan continued, "because such failures pose a potential safety consequence to the public, including your workers."
Sadovsky has 30 days to pay the fine or request in writing that all or part be withdrawn.
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