Update on public health issues related to the Polonium-210 incident

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

As part of this follow-up a member of Mr Litvinenko's family who was in close contact with him during his illness provided the Agency with a urine sample. The result of this sample has shown that the adult family member has been exposed to some Polonium-210 ( Po-210). The 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.

We will not be confirming the identity of the adult family member relating to this result. Results from other family members have shown nothing of concern.

 

Professor Pat Troop , Chief Executive of the Health Protection Agency said:

"It is important to remember that Mr Litvinenko's family experienced the closest contact with him during his illness and despite these results the level of exposure this adult family member received is a tiny fraction of the lethal dose received by Mr Litvinenko himself.

"The risk to others who came into contact with Mr Litvinenko, but did not come into direct contact with his bodily fluids remains negligible. As healthcare workers would have followed precautionary measures when treating Mr Litvinenko this latest information does not alter their risk. All healthcare workers have been followed up by the Agency and none have reported any symptoms that would be a cause of concern.

"We have been working closely with the family to answer any questions they may have at this time. The risk to the public health remains low".

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.

 

Overall 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 there 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.

 

• British Airways plane - G-BZHA at Heathrow - overall the HPA does not believe passengers on this plane were at risk over the past month

• British Airways plane - G-BNWX at Heathrow - monitoring is continuing on this plane. Further information will be issued as available

• As of midnight Thurs, Nov 30 the NHS Direct had received 2655 calls since HPA advice was issued on Sat (Nov 25)

• As of midnight Thurs, Nov 30 - the HPA had followed up 157 people who it was assessed should be investigated further

• The total number people - as of midnight Thurs, Nov 30 - referred as a precaution to a specialist outpatient assessment clinic for possible radiological exposure assessment was 24 (22 from NHS Direct and 2 via other routes)

• 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 56 healthcare staff have been asked to provide urine samples for testing

• As of 11am today a further 143 people - staff or visitors to the various locations under police investigation - have been asked by the Health Protection Agency to provide urine samples

• Of the urine samples tested so far by the Agency 36 found nothing of concern. The Agency will be contacting these people to inform them of their results

 

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.

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: 14 December 2007