Harold McCluskey
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Harold R. McCluskey was a chemical operator at the Hanford nuclear weapons plant located in Washington state who is known for having survived exposure to the highest dose of americium radiation ever recorded in 1976. He became known as the Atomic Man.
On August 30, 1976, McCluskey at the age of 64 was exposed to 500 times the occupational standard for americium 241, a plutonium byproduct, during an accident in a glove box resulting in an explosion.
He was placed in isolation (because of risk of exposure to other individuals) for five months and underwent chelation therapy using DTPA.
He died on August 17, 1987 of coronary artery disease, unrelated to the radiation exposure.