Update on public health issues related to Polonium-210 investigation

2 December 2006

The Health Protection Agency is continuing to provide expert advice on the public health issues surrounding the death of Mr. Alexander Litvinenko.

The Health Protection Agency has today confirmed the following:

• British Airways planes: G-BZHA, G-BNWX and G-BNWB - there have been no issues of public health concern and our overall assessment is that passengers who travelled on any of these planes over the last month were not at risk;

• Easyjet planes - there are no public health concerns arising from this incident for people who have travelled on Easyjet;

• The Ashdown Park Hotel - has been checked and nothing of public health concern has been found;

• The Emirates Stadium - an area in the stadium has been checked and there is no risk to public health.

It is important to remember that Polonium-210 is a naturally occurring source of radioactive material that we are all exposed to during our lifetime and any extra exposure such as this does not automatically mean the individual concerned will suffer any long-term health effects. This result has been identified as a result of the exceptional precautionary measures the Health Protection Agency has taken in response to this incident.

General update

Small quantities of radioactive material (Polonium-210) were initially found in a small number of areas at three locations in London . The Agency is also aware of other venues where police have been continuing their investigations and where traces of contamination have been confirmed. The Agency will monitor all locations identified by the police as part of their investigations to assess whether there is any public health risk.

The Health Protection Agency wants to reassure members of the public that the risk of having been exposed to this substance remains low. It can only represent a radiation hazard if it is taken into the body - by breathing it in, by taking it into the mouth, or if it gets into a wound. It is not a radiological hazard as long as it remains outside the body. Most traces of it can be eliminated through handwashing, or washing machine and dishwasher cycles for clothes, plates etc.

The Agency's public health follow-up has included testing urine samples from those in close contact with Mr. Litvinenko, those who worked or were present in the affected areas and, where appropriate, those who called for advice via NHS Direct.

• As of midnight Fri, Dec 1 the NHS Direct had received 2,974 calls since HPA advice was issued on Sat (Nov 25)

• As of midnight Fri, Dec 1 - the HPA had followed up 170 people who it was assessed should be investigated further

• The total number of people - as of midnight Fri 1 Dec - referred as a precaution to a specialist outpatient assessment clinic for possible radiological exposure assessment remains at 24 (22 from NHS Direct and 2 via other routes).

This clinic is a specialist assessment clinic set up for patients reporting symptoms that potentially could have been caused by radiation exposure. This is to rule out radiation exposure as a cause of their symptoms. They will be referred for appropriate treatment for any other conditions which are picked up. Patients at the specialist outpatient assessment clinic will be asked to complete a questionnaire, be assessed by a doctor and further tests will be carried out if they are considered necessary. Results of any tests taken will be made available to these patients - this should be within a week of receiving their samples.

• As of 11am today 238 healthcare workers needed to be assessed to determine whether they had been at potential risk of contamination. These assessments have been made and as a precaution 68 healthcare staff have been asked to provide urine samples for testing

• Of the urine samples tested so far by the Agency 67 found nothing of concern. The Agency will be contacting these people to inform them of their results.

• The only urine sample that the Agency has examined that has shown exposure to some Polonium-210 (Po-210), relates to an adult family member. These levels are not significant enough to result in any illness in the short term and the results are reassuring in that any increased risk in the long term is likely to be very small.

Our advice remains to members of the public that anyone who was in the Itsu restaurant or who was in The Pine Bar or the restaurant of the Millennium Hotel, on 1 November should contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

The police investigation continues. We will provide further public information as appropriate.

Notes to Editors:

1. The HPA advice is that anyone who was in the Itsu restaurant, or who was in The Pine Bar or the restaurant of the Millennium Hotel on 1 November should contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647 where they will be given advice on what to do.

2. If you are an overseas visitor and were in the Itsu restaurant, or The Pine Bar or the restaurant of the Millennium Hotel on 1 November you should email the Health Protection Agency for advice: overseasadvice@hpa.org.uk. If you do not have access to email you can contact NHS Direct on 00 (44) 845 4647 but only via a mobile telephone if you are calling from abroad. (If this does not connect you please try 0845 46 47 instead - again only from a mobile)

3. Further information is available on www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk and www.hpa.org.uk

4. Media enquiries to HPA London press office on 020 7759 2824 or HPA CRCE press office on 01235 822 678 or 01235 822 744. If you are calling out of hours please use 020 8200 4400.

Last reviewed: 17 December 2007