Clean-up is underway today after a MU researcher accidentally walked out of a lab with radioactive material on his shoe. The incident happened early Monday evening on the first floor in a lab of Schlundt Annex. The researcher unintentionally spilled the radioactive isotope phosphorus-32 and walked out of the lab with it on his shoes. MU spokesman Christian Basi says the researcher immediately notified MU's environmental health and safety department when he realized what happened. Cleanup crews worked to identify where the material was located outside the Annex. Basi says students and faculty did not face health risks. Today the University is still restricting access to six of the labs. Basi says due to emergency drills held each year, the environmental and health agency knew how to respond quickly and effectively.

"This is a case of being prepared. That we had no health issues come up with this situation, that the researcher who was involved knew exactly what to do and when to do it, and the folks that had to respond knew exactly what they needed to do to get their job done."

Basi says if this were to happen again, an emergency plan is in place to identify the risks of material. It is unknown when the investigation into the incident will begin. Environmental health and safety director Peter Ashbrook was not available to comment. © Copyright 2012, KBIA