Research was underway on Saturday January 28 in the state of Western Australia to find as quickly as possible a tiny radioactive capsule that disappeared during its transport from a mine.
The 8mm by 6mm silver capsule, which is used in mining operations, has not been found since mid-January, Australian emergency services said. It contains a radioactive substance, cesium-137, according to the Department of Health of Western Australia.
The capsule reportedly fell from a truck as it was being transported to a storage location. Cesium-137 is a commonly used substance in mining operations.
Health authorities have warned against tampering with this object. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said the capsule could not be used as a weapon, but could cause radiation burns and pose other longer-term risks, such as cancer.
” The object emits a “reasonable” amount of radiation (…). The worry is someone picking it up not knowing what they’re dealing with said Dr Andrew Robertson, Western Australia Medical Services Manager; adding that screws were missing from the protective gauge that held the capsule when it was discovered missing.
” These gauges are designed to be rugged and for use in industrial environments where they may be exposed to weather and vibration, so it is unusual for a gauge to come loose like this. »
05:30 PM – Chemical Spill in RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCE RISK in parts of the Pilbara, Midwest Gascoyne, Goldfields-Midlands and Perth Metropolitan regions: https://t.co/ZSEIQDbkiJ
— DFES (@dfes_wa) January 28, 2023
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Long research to come
Rescue services said she was lost between the remote town of Newman and the northern suburbs of Perth, a distance of around 1,400 kilometres.
The sites where the transport started and ended have been excavated and efforts are underway to determine the exact route and the stops that were made in order to narrow the search field. A spokesman for the fire department said the capsule is being sought first in populated areas but it could take weeks. The search involves the use of survey meters to detect radiation levels which should help locate the small device.
Authorities were alerted to the disappearance on Wednesday after the company responsible for the capsule realized it was missing, he added.
The mining giant Rio Tinto confirmed earlier on Saturday that the capsule came from one of its mining sites. The company said it brought in an expert in handling radioactive materials to “ pack the capsule and transport it safely » until deposit. ” Rio Tinto was informed of the disappearance of the capsule by a contractor on January 25 “said a spokesperson. The contractor, an expert in handling radioactive materials, was hired by Rio Tinto to handle and package the capsule and transport it safely off site.
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This is not the first time that radioactive objects have wandered around in nature. In 1999, in Peru, a radiographer had lost an iridium-192 capsule, recovered by a worker. He then put it in his back pocket. Severely burned, he had to be amputated.