Package discovered in basement marked 'uranium' found to be harmless

A suspicious package found in the basement of a Naperville house Wednesday had a handwritten label that read "uranium," and contained radioactive materials that hazmat crews determined were not dangerous, authorities officials said.

Illinois Emergency Management inspectors confirmed the material inside the small package was uranium. They also confirmed there were such low levels of radioactivity that it wouldn't have caused any harm.

Naperville firefighters and hazmat teams were called about 11:30 a.m. to the house on the 1000 block of Huntleigh Drive in a subdivision north of Hobson Road, after a resident of the house reported finding a package with a label indicating it contained uranium.

Apparently, a resident in the house was cleaning out the basement and discovered it. The resident was unsure how to properly dispose of the package and contacted several outside organizations, a fire department news release stated.

Once notified, firefighters triggered a hazardous materials box alarm, bringing an engine, squad, truck and ambulance to the scene along with the hazmat crews and a hazmat trailer.

Extensive monitoring of the materials and area determined the readings were at the normal range, Division Chief Amy Scheller said.

"We're still confident that there is no risk to the community, and we'll continue to monitor," Scheller said.

Family members also were monitored with no elevated readings and no complaints, authorities said.

A 63-year-old man who died in 2006 lived at the house and worked as a research scientist for the industrial gases industry, according to property records and his obituary. Fire officials said they did not know whether his career had any bearing on the package.

Illinois Emergency Management officials collected the package through its Orphan Source Recovery Program. The agency will ensure the materials are properly disposed of through a licensed disposal facility, spokeswoman Patti Thompson said.