WARNING: Radioactive Tissue Boxes Sold at Bed, Bath & Beyond

Late Friday, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) warned that metal tissue box covers delivered to  retail stores throughout the U.S. may contain cobalt-60, a radioactive substance.

Health officials confirm they were sent to the , but not the store in Manchester, near Highway 141.

Customers who purchased the covers are advised to return them to the store for a refund. More information and a photo are available on the store's website.

Radiocative material emits radiation, which in large doses can cause burns, cancer and death. First signs are nausea, vomiting, headache.

The DHSS made the annoucement in the following news release:

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources received notice from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that metal tissue box covers from a product line delivered to retail stores throughout the United States may contain cobalt-60, a radioactive substance.

Further investigation found that 12 tissue box covers (Model DR9M Dual Ridge Metal Boutique) were delivered to a Bed Bath and Beyond store at 10770 Sunset Hill Plaza in St. Louis. Six of those tissue box covers have been identified and placed in a secure location to prevent any potential exposure. The remaining six items are thought to have been sold to customers.

DHSS is working with store management to ensure contact with customers so the products can be returned. The Bed, Bath and Beyond corporate office has indicated the Sunset Hills location is the only store in Missouri to have received tissue box covers from this product line.

Anyone who may have purchased the item is advised to return the item to the store for a refund. Bed, Bath and Beyond has posted additional information online at bedbathandbeyond.com.

Customers may also call the company at 1-800-462-3966.

DHSS will continue to work with Bed, Bath and Beyond as well as state and federal partners to ensure all contaminated products are returned to a Bed, Bath and Beyond location and appropriately secured.

Chesterfield Editor Jean Whitney contributed to this article.