The Australian Nuclear Safety Agency (ASPANSA, acronym in English) indicated this Tuesday that it joins the search for the small radioactive capsule lost by mining red river in the vast state of Western Australia.
harpansa indicated in a statement that as of today “a team with portable detection instruments and specialized automobiles to support the search” that is focused between the region of Pilbarawhere Rio Tinto operates more than a dozen mines, and the city of Pertha route of about 1,400 kilometers – a distance longer than the length of Great Britain.
The tiny capsule, 6 millimeters in diameter and 8 millimeters high, contains a “small amount” of the radioactive substance. Cesium-137used in mining, and was lost when it was transported by a truck between January 10 and 16, explained Friday the Western Australia Department of Health.
ARPANSA, the Australian Government’s main authority on radiation protection and nuclear safety, indicated today that its support for the operation is part of “the national emergency response and radiation protection capacity” and is intended to “protect the community from harmful effects of radiation.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES, acronym in English) leads the operation in which the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (ANSTO)
Western Australia emergency teams today issued a new alert for motorists traveling in the area where the radioactive object is believed to have been lost and come across the search party.
“Radiation specialists and the DFES they are searching along the road Great Northern Highway driving north and south at low speed. Be careful when approaching and be careful when overtaking.”
Authorities warned, in a previous alert, about the risks of exposure to this toxic substance, which include “radiation burns or radiation sickness,” such as cancer.
The department asks that in case of sighting any suspicious material, people remain at least five meters away, do not touch it, do not keep it in bags or backpacks and do not take it to their cars, but report it “immediately” to the authorities.
“The risk to the community at large is relatively low, however it is important to be aware of the risks and know what to do if you see the capsule,” the alert states.
The toxic material was packaged on January 10 and the vehicle arrived in Perth six days later, but it was not until the 25th that cargo inspectors realized that one of the packages was torn and one of those tiny letters capsules had been lost on the way.
(With information from EFE)
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Source-www.infobae.com