Radioactive bowls found at Chicago pet store

Updated: July 2, 2012 12:25PM

Stainless steel pet bowls contaminated with low levels of radioactive material might have been shipped to 11 Petco stores throughout Illinois, state officials said Friday.

Two contaminated bowls were discovered on Friday by state inspectors at a Petco store at 2000 N. Clybourn Ave., Chicago, according to a release from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

The state agency also said five possibly contaminated bowls might have been sold from the Clybourn store between June 14 and 15.

The bowls contained traces of cobalt-60, the statement said, but the highest radiation level detect was so low that holding one of the bowl for about six and a half days would be equivalent to an x-ray scan.

“These bowls do not pose an immediate health risk, but we always want to prevent unnecessary exposure to radiation,” said IEMA Director Jonathon Monken in a statement.

The shipment containing the contaminated bowls was received by a distribution center in Joliet, where inspectors found “several items” that imitated radiation, the IEMA said.

The bowls have since been pulled from shelves, and state and federal officials are working with Petco officials to isolate any contaminated bowls, the IEMA said.

“We will continue to work closely with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and store officials until we confirm that all items have been located and secured,” Monken said.

The IEMA recommends that anyone who believes they purchased a contaminated bowl should call the store where they bought it.

Among the Petco stores that might have received contaminated bowls are:

• 2000 North Clybourn, Chicago

• 440 North Orleans St., Chicago

• 629 East Dundee Road, Palatine

• 2204 S. Harlem, North Riverside

• 4411 16th St., Moline

• 1310-1312 E. Main St., Carbondale

• 2046 N. State Route 50, Bourbonnais

• 199 S. Route 83, Elmhurst

• 9645 Skokie Blvd., Skokie

• 17930 Halsted St., Homewood

• 11720 S. Marshfield, Chicago

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