Lost for days… Radioactive capsule found

Australia has been in the world press with some pretty extraordinary news lately. On January 25, the Rio Tinto mining company stated that a small capsule containing a highly radioactive substance, Cesium-137, had been lost during transport and announced that it was supporting the search efforts by apologizing.

Although the radiation emitted by the capsule and the wide area in which it was lost caused concern in the authorities, some good news arrived today and it was reported that the capsule was found.

Western Australia’s Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson told a news conference that the capsule was found by a member of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization on Wednesday morning, about 30 miles south of the Newman mining town.

SMALL BUT DANGEROUS

“This is an extraordinary result,” Dawson said, stressing that authorities have been trying for the past six days to find the capsule and prevent the poisonous substance it contains from harming people.

Experts warned that the 8mm by 6mm capsule contains Cesium-137 and can cause serious health problems if it comes in contact with it. Nearby exposure has been noted to carry risks of skin burns, radiation sickness, and potentially fatal cancer, especially for those with unknowing prolonged exposure.

Radiation Services WA reported that staying within a meter of the capsule for one hour would emit about 1.6 millisieverts (mSv), which is roughly equivalent to the radiation received from taking 17 standard chest X-rays.

“The search party has literally found the needle in a haystack,” Dawson said in a statement. “Western Australians may sleep better tonight,” she said.