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hzj5790 OP t1_j6i70sr wrote

From the Article

“Mining giant Rio Tinto on Monday apologized after the loss of a small radioactive capsule used in its operations caused a radiation alert in Western Australia.

The silver-colored capsule is just 6 millimeters in diameter (0.24 inches) and 8 millimeters long and is thought to have been lost during a 1,400 kilometre drive through the remote Pilbara, Midwest Gascoyne, Goldfields-Midlands and Perth Metropolitan regions.

Emergency services in the state of Western Australia said close exposure to the substance could cause radiation burns or radiation sickness and warned the public to stay five meters away from it if spotted. However, they said the risk to the rural community was relatively low.

The capsule was part of a gauge used for measuring the density of iron ore feed.

It was delivered by a third-party contractor from Rio Tinto's Gudai-Darri site to Perth for repairs on Jan. 12, arriving on Jan. 16.

When it was unpacked for inspection on Jan. 25, the gauge was found broken apart with four mounting bolts, all screws and the capsule missing.

Simon Trott, Rio Tinto's iron ore chief executive, said in a statement issued Monday, "We are taking l this incident very seriously. We recognise this is l clearly very concerning and are sorry for the alarm it has caused in the Western Australian community."

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The-Brit t1_j6iah3v wrote

Recommended to stay 5 metres away? From memory of a previous article I saw.

It's TINY (about the size of a bullet) and would be nearly impossible to spot from that distance.

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aquarain t1_j6jgr8w wrote

It doesn't sound like it's lying in the road somewhere. Four mounting bolts and all screws also missing? Somebody took it.

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phdoofus t1_j6kktqt wrote

Inside job. Someone's going to die from this thing because someone could hide it in their favorite chair.

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christinasasa t1_j6le7eb wrote

That.. that is actually plausible. It would take a couple years but, that's exactly what they're worried about, and that's why they're trying to scare the shit out of the public.

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Bensemus t1_j6p6nm2 wrote

Walking within 5 meters as you walk past it won't do anything. If you pick it up then you are starting to get a concerning dose and need to get it at least 5m away from you and now that you know where it is you need to remain 5m away.

With how radioactive it is if it's along the road they will easily find it with radiation meters. If someone has stolen it then it will be hard to find, but not impossible.

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