1962 Mexico City radiation accident

Between March and July 1962, a radiation incident in Mexico City occurred when a ten-year-old boy took home an industrial radiography source that was not contained in its proper shielding.

Five individuals received significant doses of radiation from the 200-gigabecquerel cobalt-60 capsule,[1] four of whom died.

[1] The boy is believed to have obtained the source some time after moving into the house on March 21.

On April 1, his mother placed it in the kitchen cabinet of their home, where it remained until July 22.

[5] The boy's father also received a significant radiation dose; although he was left permanently sterile,[1] he survived, presumably because he worked outside the home and his exposure was lower.