An extraordinary health alert. This Friday the Department of Fire and Emergency Services of Australia (DFES) alerted residents of the west of the country after the loss of a radioactive capsule during transport. The DFES calls for caution.
Risks of “burns” and “radiation”
“A capsule containing a radioactive substance was lost during transport from the north of Newman (city in the west of the country, editor’s note) to the northeastern suburbs of Perth (southwest),” indicates the DFES.
The department warns that “exposure to this substance may cause radiation burns or acute radiation syndrome.”
However, it ensures that the risk is “relatively low” in the general population.
Only 6 millimeters in diameter
The DFES explains that the cache was “packaged on January 10, 2023” and left a mining site in the following days to go to Perth to a warehouse, located almost 1,500 km away.
If the delivery arrived on January 16, an inspection revealed a few days later that “the capsule was broken”, that “screws” were missing. DFES claims to have been informed of this incident last Wednesday.
The Australian fire department specifies that the capsule in question is round, silver in color and “small”, measuring just 6mm in diameter and 8mm in height.
“Our concern is that someone picks it up and doesn’t know what it is,” Western Australia’s public health chief Andy Robertson told a news conference, saying the capsule emits a “reasonable” level of radiation, according to The Guardian.
Capsule “Do not touch”
In the event that a person finds the capsule, the fire department issues its recommendations: it calls in particular to “stay at least 5 meters” from the capsule, “do not touch it” and call the department immediately.
For those who have already touched the capsule, the DFES advises expressly going to the doctor or going to the emergency room.
Radioactive capsules are regularly used in the mining industry. Presents a long-term risk of cancer in case of prolonged exposure.
Source: BFM TV
