© Reuters. Members of the Incident Management Team coordinate the search for a radioactive capsule that was lost in transit by a contractor contracted by Rio Tinto, at the Emergency Services Complex in Cockburn, Australia, in this undated photo. Department of Physics
By Lewis Jackson and Melanie Burton
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian authorities found a radioactive capsule smaller than a coin on Wednesday that was lost in the vast Outback after a nearly week-long search involving around 100 people along a 1,400-mile stretch of road. kilometers (870 miles), authorities said.
The cesium-137 capsule lost in transit more than two weeks ago was discovered when a vehicle traveling at 70 kilometers per hour equipped with specialized detection equipment picked up the radiation, according to Western Australian state officials.
The search team then used portable detection equipment to find the capsule, which was located about 2 meters from the side of the road in a remote area far from any community, they added.
The radioactive capsule was part of an indicator used to measure the density of iron ore supply from Rio Tinto’s (NYSE:) Gudai-Darri mine in the state’s remote Kimberley region. The indicator was being taken to a facility in the suburbs of the state capital, Perth, a distance greater than the length of Great Britain.
People had been told to stay at least five meters (16.5 feet) away if they saw the capsule, because exposure could cause radiation burns or radiation sickness. However, driving past was believed to be relatively low risk, similar to taking an X-ray.
Western Australia’s Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said the find was an “extraordinary result” after a search involving the state’s emergency response department, defense authorities and radiation specialists.
“When you consider the scope of the search area, locating this object was a monumental challenge, the search parties literally found the needle in the haystack,” he said.
A 20-meter exclusion zone has been set up around the capsule while members of the defense forces verify it via a serial number.
It will then be placed in a lead container and stored overnight in a secure location in Newman, a mining town some 1,200km northwest of Perth, before being flown to the state capital on Thursday.
The silver capsule, 6 mm in diameter and 8 mm long, contains Cesium-137 which emits radiation equivalent to 10 X-rays per hour.
Officials said the capsule apparently fell off a truck during transport and landed on the side of the road, adding that contamination in the area is unlikely.
Rio is willing to pay the cost of the search if the government asks it to, the head of the iron ore division, Simon Trott, told reporters. He added that there would be a full investigation into the circumstances of his loss and that the company would implement additional controls to prevent a repeat.
Rio said in a statement that it would investigate whether the use of specialist contractors had been appropriate and entrusted the meter to SGS Australia and Centurion for packaging and transport respectively.
SGS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Centurion said in a statement that it was seeking answers as to how the capsule became detached during transport, as the box and pallet provided by SGS arrived in Perth in the same condition as at the start of the voyage, and GPS data showed no change. sudden in speed. .
“From a freight and logistics perspective, this indicates routine travel, and the fact that the box was not opened for a week until after delivery reinforces that view,” Centurion said.
Western Australia’s health director, Andrew Robertson, said there would be an investigation and prosecutions would be considered under the state’s 1975 radiation safety laws.
The maximum penalty for failing to handle radioactive substances safely is A$1,000 and A$50 a day if the offense continues, although the state government said on Wednesday it was considering a change to the laws to allow for higher penalties.
Officials said any changes to the penalties would not be retrospective.
