Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto apologized on Monday after losing a small capsule in Western Australia on Jan. 10, but with radiation levels dangerous to human health.
The eight-by-six-millimeter silver capsule used in mining operations contains a radioactive substance called Cesium-137, according to the Western Australia State Department of Health.
Emergency services said the capsule disappeared while being transported by truck, a distance of about 1,400 kilometers, from a mine near the remote town of Newman to the northern suburbs of Perth, a city of 2.1 million.
“We recognize that this situation is clearly of great concern and regret the concern it has caused in the Western Australian community,” said Rio Tinto Iron Ore CEO.
“We have begun our own investigation to understand how the capsule could have been lost,” Simon Trott added in a statement.
The radioactive capsule, which is part of equipment used in the mining industry to measure the density of iron ore, was transported by a Rio Tinto-certified company, Trott said.
Health authorities, announcing the incident on Friday, warned the public not to touch the capsule or even stay within five meters.
Cesium-137 emits dangerous amounts of radiation, the equivalent of receiving ten X-rays in an hour. The capsule can cause burns and prolonged exposure can cause cancer.
Last week, a fire service spokesperson said the search for the capsule began in populated areas along the truck’s path, but admitted it could take weeks.
The lorry arrived at a depot in Perth on January 16, but authorities were not notified of the incident until Wednesday, after the company responsible for the transport reported it missing.
The police determined that the disappearance was an accident and not a criminal case.
Source: DN
