The 1997 Lilo Orphaned Source Radiation Incident 1997 | Short Documentary | Plainly Difficult

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Today's Documentary we are looking at the Lilo Radiological disaster took place just outside Lilo, Georgia during 1996-1997.

A Large Number Nuclear radiation sources were abandoned at a site by the Russian Army without following established regulatory safety procedures or even telling anyone which is fascinatingly horrific.

It seems the lessons from Chernobyl Ukraine were never learned, leading to multiple radiation events in ex Soviet Union countries.

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[schnoodle]

Might I suggest the 1977-78 mass poisoning of almost every cow in the state of Michigan when the industrial fire proofing agent PBB was accidently added to cattle feed and shipped state wide Anyone over the age of 45 still has PBBs in their body to this day.

[CaptOrbit]

I remember one of my high school friends got a job at a local metal scrap yard. I went to pick him up one time when his car was in the shop. As I waited for a few minutes I saw trucks from both large commercial carriers and just regular people bringing in loads of scrap in their pickups for sale. As they did each vehicle had to pass through a large scanning device.

I asked what they were for and he said they were radiation detectors. I asked where radioactive material would come from in Ohio? He said that's just the thing you never know where the incoming scrap has been sourced from. He pointed out between numerous hospitals, cancer clinics, research labs and universities that the odds of getting something radioactive was low but that it could happen.

[ichaukan]

I've said it before, but I'm always amazed at how many of these orphaned source incidents there have been over the last half a century. Up until a few years ago, all I really knew of was Goiania but I guess that's because I live in North America and eastern Europe is a "world away".

[pngolin]

You know these videos explain a lot about the weird thing my parents would tell me as a child.
I was born in eastern France, child of the 90s and even I was told not to pick up devices or pieces of metal laying around because it could be radioactive.
We saw movies on tv with teens from small american town using a dump site as a playground, and my parents were like "this is how you get radiation sickness" and i never understood why we would have any reason to have radioactive material in my town.
Im guessing this was the aftermath of Chernobyl and there were reports about public incidents involving waste materials after the fall of the Russian bloc where im from. Or since they went to french hospitals it could have been reported in the news there. Because this is a way too specific childhood memory for it NOT to be related.

[Weaponsandstuff]

Great video. This reminds me of an incident in Ukraine where a CS-137 training source got lost in a quarry during training and then ended up inside an apartment wall killing several residents over decades before it was eventually found.

Worryingly both in Russia and former Satellites radiation dosimeters such as the DP-2 (Roentgen Dose rate meter) which contain extremely strong SR-90 sources are often just dumped in landfills. People salvage them without realising what they are or they contaminate the area around them. Some DP-2 counters still contain sources so strong that about 2 Half Lives on the source inside can still measure roughly 20-50R/H 19-48 cGy/H

[foxman]

*lives in an ex-soviet satelite state*
*lives near a chemical plant where explosives were made*
*lives near several military training grounds and bases*
*lives near a scrap pile that used to be a hospital*
Right. I'mma get a Geiger counter... for... reasons.

[archstanton]

As a Georgian, I have to say, your pronunciation of Tbilisi is excellent. English speakers struggle with it for some reason. Great video too, as always!

[LeCharles]

PD has taught me that if I find a piece of metal that is oddly warm for some reason I should get my will in order and maybe not carry the metal around in my jacket. TY PD <3

[ZGryphon]

Every time I hear about another case of dangerous, usually radioactive crap being left lying around by the Soviets, I think of the pre-credits scene in _Tomorrow Never Dies._ "Can't you people keep anything locked up?!"

[qston]

Nice to see some more radiation/nuclear focused videos again. I'm amazed that you can still find so many good video topics around radiation/nuclear accidents

[whatsonchannelB]

How are there so many radiation events I never heard of? I'm concerned John is going back in time and hiding radioactive stuff all around the world so people keep finding it and generating new YouTube content :D

[Wildschwein_Jaeger]

Warm jacket AND plenty of snow free areas to stand guard. Nice.

[topiasr]

The callousness of the Russian officers (and men) who left this base with everything still in its hidden locations is mind blowing. Couldn't be bothered to make a note, throw it all in a box, or idk... anything?

[herbcraven]

"...at least your feet is safe" That poor guy never gets a break!

[carneeki]

With a thirty year half life on cesium 137, it's probably safe to say that some of those yet to be discovered devices might be only half as dangerous now. Others, will let's just say I wouldn't like to push my luck.

[DamnDaniel]

I really enjoy history and this channel has been a big help in teaching me new interesting moments throughout it. Thank you for your hard work!

[Mr_T_Badger]

Did anyone find out just WHY a piece of nuclear material was in a soldier’s uniform jacket anyway? Like was it an accident and just nobody noticed it or was it a not so lucky charm?

[Chriss]

gotta love it when a place used to teach the handling and recovery of radioactive material just leaves.
makes me wonder how effective the training was.

[holyassbutts]

*Doctor:* I say, you look positively radiant!

*Patient:* 😒

[markh.]

Him: "I'm going for a walk."
Her: "Don't forget your radiation detectors!"
Him: "Balls!"