Document ID: PHMSA-2012-0015-0001
Agency: phmsa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Safety Advisories: Return of Radioactively Contaminated Tissue Holders Purchased from Bed Bath and Beyond
Posted Date: 2012-01-27T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 18 (Friday, January 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 4398]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-1714]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2012-0015; Notice No. 12-1]

Safety Advisory Notice: Return of Radioactively Contaminated 
Tissue Holders Purchased From Bed Bath and Beyond

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 
DOT.

ACTION: Safety Advisory Notice.

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SUMMARY: PHMSA has been notified that Bed Bath and Beyond sold a number 
of tissue holders in the United States, identified as the Dual Ridge 
Metal tissue holder, model number DR9M, that emit low levels of 
radiation. PHMSA and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission believe that 
there is no immediate danger to the public; however, PHMSA is advising 
persons in possession of the contaminated tissue holders that they 
should arrange with Bed Bath and Beyond for their safe return. Any 
person in possession of this item should call Bed Bath and Beyond at 1-
(800) 462-3966 to obtain information about the proper return 
procedures.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Rick Boyle, Acting Chief, Sciences 
Branch, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, (202) 366-2993, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 11, 2012, PHMSA was advised that 
Bed Bath and Beyond sold Dual Ridge Metal tissue holders model number 
DR9M, that were contaminated with the radioisotope Cobalt-60 during 
their manufacture in India. At this time, it has been verified that at 
least 220 tissue holders, sold in some of the more than 200 affected 
Bed Bath and Beyond stores in the United States, are radioactively 
contaminated. The highest identified radioactivity level on the surface 
of the tissue holders was approximately 20 mrem/hr, however most of the 
tissue holders showed much lower levels. A person who spends eight 
hours in close contact with one of these tissue holders (such as having 
the tissue on a bedside table next to the bed) could possibly get a 
maximum yearly dose of about 500-700 mrem. While no unnecessary 
radiation exposure is desirable, the dose from the tissue holders is 
not expected to cause any appreciable health effects. To put this into 
perspective, a person living in the United States receives a 
radioactive exposure of about 360 mrem/year from naturally-occurring 
background radiation.
    Bed Bath and Beyond has posted notices on its web site: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/tissueholdernotice.asp, its facebook pages, 
and in its stores, and has been actively working with state Radiation 
Control Programs, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Environmental 
Protection Agency, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and Pipeline 
and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to identify and remove 
all of the contaminated tissue holders. Information on radiation 
exposure can be found on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Web site 
at: http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/radiation/around-us/doses-daily-lives.html.

Recommended Action

    A person in possession of this item should call Bed Bath and Beyond 
at 1-(800) 462-3966 to obtain information about the proper return 
procedures. If a person possessing the identified tissue holders 
experiences difficulties when attempting to obtain return directions or 
assistance from Bed Bath and Beyond, they should contact PHMSA at the 
contact number provided in this notice.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 23, 2012.
R. Ryan Posten,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety, Pipeline 
and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-1714 Filed 1-26-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P