Penny-sized radioactive capsule goes missing in Australia

 

Australia

A tiny radioactive capsule, about the size of a pea, has the Australian government on edge. It is believed to have fallen off a truck while being transported between a mine and the city of Perth - a distance longer than the length of Great Britain - a couple of weeks ago.

In order to expand the frantic search that is underway for the lost capsule, nothing short of finding a needle in a haystack, Australia's Department of Fire and Emergency Services has brought in new radiation detection equipment that could be fitted to vehicles. The deadly device is expected to have fallen off somewhere along the 1,400-km-long path the truck took.

The capsule is part of a density gauge. It is composed of Cesium-137 (Cs-137) and reportedly has the capacity to emit radiation equivalent to receiving ten X-rays in an hour. Scientists have raised warnings against the device, saying it could cause skin burns and prolonged exposure could cause cancer.

Vibrations from the truck possibly caused the screws and the bolt to come loose, authorities suspect, making the tiny capsule from the gauge fall out of the package and then out of a gap in the vehicle.

Mining giant Rio Tinto, which was responsible for transporting the equipment, apologised on Monday for the alarm that had been caused. The firm, which has been the subject of a series of controversies in recent years, announced it would be launching its own investigation into what had happened.

There are concerns that the radioactive capsule, being so small, might have become lodged in the tyre of a vehicle passing along the road. Moreover, if it is discovered by a member of the public, authorities fear, they might unintentionally keep it as a souvenir.

In a statement, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) on Tuesday announced it would work in conjunction with the Western Australia government to locate the device.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

GAAC Holding: Restoring Afghanistan's Aviation Sector with Urgent Investments

Image
Afghanistan' s aviation sector has faced numerous challenges in recent years, with severe damage to airports and the suspension of international flights. However, GAAC Holding, a UAE -based company, has emerged as a key player in restoring the functionality and safety of Afghanistan's airports. Through significant investments and dedicated efforts, GAAC Holding aims to revive the country's aviation sector and pave the way for its development. Revitalizing Airport Infrastructure: GAAC Holding's urgent investment of USD 641,000 has played a crucial role in rebuilding Afghanistan's airports. The funds were utilized for various purposes, including repairing runway lights, installing generators, procuring x-ray machines, metal detectors, and explosive trace detectors. Additionally, temporary terminal buildings were set up, and essential supplies such as food and water were provided for airport staff. The company also invested in necessary ground support equipment like tr
Read more

12-year-old piano prodigy who plays Beethoven

Image
  Ahmed can play pieces by Beethoven, Mozart and Bach, and composes his own music. His mother, Eiman Al Aleel that in 2012 doctors said Ahmed, who was then a year and eight months old, had autism. “We took him to many  after he stopped talking or making eye contact,” said Ms Aleeli.  “I am blessed with a loving husband. He is a dedicated father and family man who is taking care of all the needs of our other three children since I am giving 90 per cent of my time to Ahmed,” she said. Enrolling Ahmed in kindergarten and then in school was a big challenge. “One kindergarten told me accepting Ahmed in their facility would tarnish their reputation,” Ms Aleeli said.
Read more

India,China hanging by the cliff, Can they afford a trade war?

India and China are barely holding on their own but what will happen if these countries go on a trade war? Indian has already banned 51 of chinese applications. The picture of a full blown trade war does not look nice. The deadly broder battle between both the countries last month has left the countries sour and has led to taking some drastic measures from both the ends. While India took an aggressive stance against China, the most populous country seems to be in no mood for retaliation. Chinese officials last week said that they were "strongly concerned" about the app ban, for example, but they did not threaten any kind of retaliation. And on Friday, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the two countries should work together, adding that barriers to cooperation "will harm India's interests." But given the interests of both the countries in line, India has more to lose. China has been a critical tarde partner for India and as of last
Read more