17 Idaho National Lab Workers Exposed To Radiation

Officials with the Idaho National Laboratory say at least 17 workers have been exposed to low-level radiation from plutonium.

The employees were working inside the facility's decommissioned Zero Power Physics Reactor Tuesday afternoon when a container holding plutonium was opened, exposing them to radiation.

A statement from the laboratory says there was no evidence that radiation was released outside the facility, and there is no risk to the public or the environment.

The workers underwent initial decontamination procedures at their worksite and were taken to the laboratory's medical center for evaluation.

Associated Press