31-01-23, 05:50
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Australian Mining Giant Lost Radioactive Capsule-Now Found
Mining Giant Sorry Over Lost Radioactive Capsule in Australia
Rio Tinto says the object went missing while it was being transported 1,400km in Western Australia.
BBC 31 JAN 2023
An illustration showing the size of the capsule
Mining giant Rio Tinto has apologised for losing a tiny radioactive capsule that went missing as it was being transported across Western Australia.
An emergency hunt for the device, which is about the size of a pea, is under way along the 1,400km (870 mile) route.
The capsule contains a small quantity of radioactive Caesium-137, which could cause serious illness to anyone who comes into contact with it.
That could include skin damage, burns or radiation sickness.
Emergency services are searching for the device using radiation detectors and other specialised equipment, and say the chances of finding the tiny device are "pretty good".
But Australia's Department for Fire and Emergency Services said the silver capsule - which is just 6mm (0.24 inches) in diameter and 8mm long - was so small it might have become lodged in the tyre of a vehicle passing along the road.
There is also concern that if it is found by a member of the public, they might inadvertently keep it as a souvenir.
Authorities are keen to stress that holding the capsule could result in radiation burns, while long-term exposure could cause cancer.
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