Published
AustraliaThe mining group Rio Tinto “sorry” to have lost a radioactive capsule
Rio Tinto has lost a tiny, but dangerously radioactive capsule that went missing while being transported by truck from a mine in Western Australia and has not been found since mid-January.
The 8mm by 6mm silver-coloured capsule, used in mining operations, contains a radioactive substance, Cesium-137, according to the Western Australia Department of Health. Rescue services said she was lost while being transported by lorry from a mine near the remote town of Newman to the northern suburbs of Perth, a distance of around 1,400 kilometres.
“We recognize that this situation is clearly very concerning and we are sorry for the concern it has caused in the Western Australian community,” said in a statement sent to AFP Simon Trott, chief executive of Rio. Tinto Iron Ore. “We have launched our own investigation to understand how the capsule might have been lost,” he added. The radioactive capsule, which is part of a gauge used in the mining industry to measure the density of iron ore, was transported by a certified Rio Tinto contractor, he said.
The health authorities, who alerted to the situation for the first time on Friday, warned once morest any manipulation of this object likely to cause burns or acute radiation syndrome and recommended to stay away from it. less than five meters.
A fire department spokesman said last week that the capsule is being searched for in populated areas first, but it might take weeks. Authorities were alerted to the disappearance on Wednesday following the company responsible for the capsule realized it was missing, he added.
(AFP)
