On February 1
st of 1996 four
kittens (about 3 weeks old) were found in Unit 1 of the heavily guarded
San Onofre reactor near
San Diego. Initially, these kittens had a reading of 6000
counts/min. After a
shampoo bath this was reduced to 1000
counts/min.
Cesium-137 accounts for 98% of the counts with
Cesium-134 and
Cobalt-60 accounting for the other 2%. The day before, an adult female cat became contaminated from contact with dirty areas in of the defunct
reactor in Unit 1 that were exposed to the environment. This cat was taken to the other side of the Interstate 5 and released. Unfortunately, it is believed that she died (remains of a slightly radioactive adult female cat were found). Once the level of radioactivity in the kittens dropped to acceptable levels they were given up for
adoption. The names of the kittens are
Alpha,
Beta,
Gamma and
Neutron.
http://facilities.uchicago.edu/organization/radiation/uofcinfo/Newsletters/DECEMB~1.HTM
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/radsafe/9602/msg00249.html