A Case of Polonium Poisoning

Dr. Alan Birchall
United Kingdom Health Protection Agency

On 23rd November 2006, Alexander Litvinenko died in a London Hospital, having been poisoned by polonium-210.  The potential for contamination of members of the public triggered a massive Public Health Response.  The Health Protection Agency (UK) was asked to take the lead by the government, and Dr Birchall, who lead the HPA's Internal Dosimetry team will present an overview of this umprecendented event.  The talk will be divided into looking at the event from a chronological, organisational and personal perspective.  The main part of the talk will centre on the decisions that had to be made concerning calculation of internal dose for all those exposed.  As the matter is still a criminal investigation, Dr Birchall will not be at liberty to disclose certain information.