Update on public health issues related to the Polonium-210 incident
28 November 2006
The Health Protection Agency is continuing to provide expert advice on the public health issues surrounding the death of Mr Alexander Litvinenko.
Small quantities of radioactive material were initially found in a small number of areas at the Itsu sushi restaurant at 167 Piccadilly, London, and in areas of the Millennium Hotel, Grosvenor Square, London, and at Mr Litvinenko's home in Muswell Hill. The substance found was Polonium-210.
The HPA is also aware of the two new addresses where Police confirmed last night that tr aces of Polonium-210 had been found - 7 Down Street and 25 Grosvenor Street . These addresses are already being monitored and so far have shown no risk to public health. Those specific areas under police investigation are also now being assessed. Advice for people who work at these locations is being provided to them.
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.
After HPA advice 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 following calls have been received:
- As of midnight Mon, Nov 27 the NHS Direct had received 1121 calls since HPA advice was issued on Sat (Nov 25)
- Of these, the Health Protection Agency has followed up 68 people who it was assessed should be investigated further
- And of those, eight have been referred as a precaution to a specialist outpatient assessment clinic for possible radiological exposure assessment
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.
The police investigation continues. We will provide further public information as appropriate.
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.
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)
Latest health advice on Polonium-210
Notes to Editors:
- Further information is available on www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk and www.hpa.org.uk
- Media enquiries to HPA London press office on 020 7759 2824 or the HPA CRCE press office on 01235 822 678. If you are calling out of hours please use 020 8200 4400.
Last reviewed: 17 December 2007