WKU News & Events

December 12, 2001

State Lifts Order Against WKU
Physics Department

Bowling Green, Ky. - The Kentucky Cabinet for Health Services has removed a cease and desist order on the use of radioactive materials against Western Kentucky University's Department of Physics and Astronomy.

The state issued the order, stopping the use of all radioactive materials in the department, on Nov. 9 after it determined the University was in noncompliance with its radioactive materials license. The incident, involving the use of a neutron generator in the parking lot of the Applied Physics Institute Annex, was investigated by the University's Radiation Safety Committee. The committee reported its findings and a list of corrective actions to the cabinet on Dec. 5.

In his letter announcing the return to compliance, Ed Lohr, supervisor of the Radioactive Material Section of the cabinet's Radiation Health and Toxic Agents Branch, said the state will review the implementation of the proposed actions during future inspections.

"We are pleased that the Cabinet for Health Services recognizes the seriousness with which Western takes this issue," said Gene Tice, vice president for Student Affairs and Campus Services and chair of the Radiation Safety Committee. "We are committed to assuring the safety of everyone involved in any project involving radioactive materials as well as the public."

In its response, the Radiation Safety Committee proposed the following recommendations:

Remove Drs. Doug Humphrey and George Vourvopoulos from WKU's Radioactive Materials License for six months. Humphrey and Vourvopoulos were the responsible investigators involved in testing the PELAN, or Pulsed Elemental Analysis with Neutrons. While the University is licensed to test the device, the test took place in an unapproved location, triggering the state action against the University.
WKU President Gary Ransdell shall submit a letter informing all responsible investigators that the radiation safety officer and Radiation Safety Committee are in charge of all radiation safety programs and license issues.
Create a radiation work permit to be approved by the Radiation Safety Committee before work is conducted under the radiation materials license.
Increase the number of internal audits by the radiation safety officer.
Revise the University's Radiation Safety Manual.

While the PELAN device was used in an unapproved location, there was no danger to the public, Dr. Tice said. Radiation monitoring equipment worn by the researchers indicated no exposure to radioactivity from the test, he said.

"Work performed under our radioactive materials license is an important part of our mission to provide relevant research and public service," Dr. Tice said. "The work of Dr. Humphrey and Dr. Vourvopoulos at the Applied Physics Institute is a prime example of how this kind of research can have national, and global, impact. Their research with the PELAN and other devices is helping in the war on drugs, in detecting explosives such as land mines, and in analyzing coal used at power plants."

"The University will make sure that this and other research continues to be performed in the safest possible manner, posing no danger to the public or the researchers."

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