Two Thieves Triggered Nuclear Disaster by Stealing Blue Cylinder from Abandoned Hospital

In 1987 two thieves in Goinia Brazil unknowingly stole a radioactive device from an abandoned hospital triggering a serious nuclear contamination event that exposed hundreds to radiation and led to emergency cleanup and new safety regulations.

In 1987, the city of Goiânia in Brazil became the site of a major radiological incident that originated from the illegal removal of a radioactive source from an abandoned medical facility. The event is recognized as one of the most serious contamination cases involving radioactive material, caused by improper storage, abandonment of equipment, and subsequent unauthorized handling of a medical device component containing cesium-137.

The situation began after the Instituto Goiano de Radioterapia relocated its cancer treatment operations in 1985. During the transition, a cobalt-60 teletherapy device was moved to the new site, while an older radiotherapy unit containing cesium-137 was left behind at a partially demolished hospital structure. The remaining equipment was not properly secured. Administrative and legal conflicts delayed its removal, and regulatory responsibilities connected to nuclear material oversight were not fully executed, leaving the source unattended in a deteriorating environment.

On September 13, 1987, two individuals, Roberto dos Santos Alves and Wagner Mota Pereira, entered the abandoned site and encountered the disused teletherapy apparatus. Mistaking it for scrap metal, they dismantled parts of the device and transported components using a wheelbarrow. During the disassembly process, the protective capsule containing cesium chloride was breached, releasing radioactive material and exposing the individuals to significant radiation. The extracted capsule was later sold to scrap dealer Devair Alves Ferreira.

At the scrap yard, the material emitted a visible blue luminescence, which resulted from ionizing radiation interacting with surrounding air molecules. Unaware of the hazard, the dealer displayed the material to acquaintances and family members. This led to repeated direct contact and widespread contamination among people who handled or were near the substance. Fragmentation of the cesium salt further increased the spread of radioactive particles within residential environments.

Health effects soon appeared among those exposed, including symptoms of acute radiation sickness. One of the affected individuals, Maria Gabriela Ferreira, recognized the abnormal condition and transported the material to a medical facility. Medical staff quickly identified the extreme radioactivity of the substance, which initiated an emergency response involving municipal, national, and international authorities, including the International Atomic Energy Agency. The incident was rapidly escalated into a coordinated containment and decontamination operation.

Recovery efforts began immediately after identification of the source. By October 3, 1987, authorities had collected contaminated materials from multiple locations. Decontamination of affected areas continued through the end of the year, with Christmas marking the completion of primary cleanup operations. Full restoration of normal living conditions extended into March 1988, when environmental safety assessments confirmed the return of habitable status in the impacted zones.

Investigations into responsibility led to legal proceedings against medical professionals associated with the original radiotherapy facility, with three doctors facing charges related to negligence in the handling and abandonment of radioactive equipment. Following international evaluation and recommendations, national nuclear regulatory authorities implemented revised safety procedures governing storage, disposal, and control of radioactive sources to prevent similar occurrences.

Approximately 250 individuals were identified as having been exposed to radiation during the incident. Four deaths were directly attributed to radiation exposure, including Maria Gabriela Ferreira. Additional long-term health consequences were recorded among the affected population, with studies indicating increased incidence of conditions such as cancer in subsequent decades, particularly breast cancer in regions linked to contamination.

The Goiânia radiological accident demonstrates the consequences of inadequate control over high-risk medical radioactive materials. While cesium-137 devices are widely used in radiation therapy for cancer treatment, the incident highlights how abandonment, regulatory failure, and unauthorized access can transform medical technology into a severe public health hazard. The case continues to be referenced in international nuclear safety frameworks as an example of the importance of strict control, secure storage, and rapid response protocols for radioactive substances.

Sources:

• BBC News - Brazil's 1987 radioactive disaster
• International Atomic Energy Agency - The Goiânia Accident
• History.com - Goiânia Radiation Disaster
• Two Men Stole a Glowing Blue Cylinder in an Abandoned Hospital—and Unleashed a Nuclear Nightmare