The emergency authorities of Australia are looking for a small but “life-threatening” radioactive capsule that she was missing for two weeks before an official noticed her. the tiny element it “mysteriously” went missing when it was transported from a mine to a warehouse in the city of Perth, in western Australia.
It is believed that the unit measuring eight by six millimetersfell off the back of a truck on his 1,400 kilometer journey from Newman to a deposit in the suburb of the aforementioned district, between January 10 and 16.
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However, the superintendent of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Darryl Ray, admitted that no one had noticed the capsule was missing for more than two weeks. Cargo inspectors notified days ago that one of the packages they transported was broken and one of the objects was missing.
Now, the authorities issued a warning to residents of various nearby areas and warned regarding the risks of exposure to this toxic substance. Among the list, appear “radiation sickness“, such as cancer in the long term, or “radiation burns“.
“The capsule it is small, round and silver. The risk to the community at large is relatively lowHowever, it is important to be aware of the risks and know what to do if you see the capsule,” says the official statement released by the entity.
The authorities are using truck gps data to determine the exact route the driver took and where he stopped following leaving the mine operated by Vino Tinto Group. But there is concern that the capsule has become lodged in a vehicle tire and is possibly hundreds of kilometers outside the search area. “We may not find it“, they acknowledged.
The Fire Department theory points to a screw coming loose inside the lead lined container in which it was contained and the unit fell through a hole. The department has deployed teams with portable radiation detection devices y metal detectors along 36 km of the busy freight route.
“We are using the radiation detectors to locate the gamma rays,” Ray explained, saying they have asked the Commonwealth and other states to provide more detectors, including units that can be mounted on a vehicle.
What material is the capsule made of?
The small missing capsule looks like a round, silvery cylinder. The radioactive material in the capsule is the cesium 137which emits gamma and beta rays and has a average life of 30 years. A person who is less than a meter from the capsule can receive a radiation equivalent to 10 x-rays in one hour of exposure.
It was also warned that, in case of sighting any suspicious material, people should keep at least five meters away, do not touch it, do not keep it in handbags or backpacks and not take it to their cars. Meanwhile, they asked that they report it “immediately” to the inspectors.
An investigation will analyze the meter and capsule handling at mine site, the shipping route used and the procedures at the Perth depot. Police determined that the incident would have been an accident and no criminal charges would be filed, while theft in the warehouse was ruled out.
fp / ds
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