Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Hoops going on in Australia. Panic became throughout the country.
This is not without reason. All because of the 8 mm x 6 mm silver capsule, Caesium-137.
That thing smaller than the coin is missing. It is believed it may have fallen somewhere along a vast desert highway in the country’s largest state, Perth, while trying to be moved from its original area.
Even though it’s small, it sparked concern among the people. It could create a radioactive health risk to anyone who finds it over the next 300 years.
What’s the chronology?
The capsule was actually taken from a Gudar-Darri mine site, owned by Rio Tinto. Then the capsules were brought in packages last January 10.
The capsule arrived in Perth January 16 and was only unloaded for inspection January 25. But when opened, he was lost and nowhere to be found.
“Upon opening the package, it was found that the gauge was damaged with one of the four mounting bolts missing… all screws on the gauge were also missing,” the local Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said. CNN International Wednesday (1/2/2023).
They believe that the strong vibrations caused by bumpy roads damage the pack. It then “retracts” the mounting bolt holding it in place.
Caesium-137 can cause serious health problems for humans who come into contact with it. Skin burns can result from close exposure, not to mention radiation sickness and the potentially lethal risk of cancer, especially for those who are exposed unknowingly for long periods of time.
“Standing within one meter of the capsule for one hour will produce about 1.6 millisieverts (mSv), as much as about 17 standard chest X-rays,” said the WA radiation service, a company that provides radiation protection advice.
“Taking the capsules will cause serious damage to your fingers and the surrounding tissue,” he added.
A professor of biophysics from the University of Southern Australia, Ivan Kempson, is worried if this is found in children. Not to mention if they put it in their pocket and take it with them.
“It’s rare but it can happen and has happened before,” Kempson said.
“There are several examples of people finding similar things and suffering from radiation poisoning,” he added.
The incident also shocked experts. Because such cases rarely occur considering the handling of radioactive materials such as Caesium-137 which is very strictly regulated by strict protocols, banks in their transportation, storage and disposal.
Rio Tinto says it regularly transports and stores dangerous goods as part of its business and employs expert contractors to handle radioactive materials. The small capsule is part of a density gauge used at the Gudai-Darri mine site to measure the density of iron ore feed in crushing areas.
“In this case, there appears to be a failure of usual control measures,” said the WA radiation service.
“The loss of the capsule is very unusual as Australian safety regulations require it to be transported in a very protective case,” said Pradip Deb, a lecturer and radiation safety officer at RMIT University in Melbourne.
Currently, the authorities are still looking for the capsule. Special radiation detection equipment was installed to look for vehicles traveling slowly up and down the highway in both directions, at 50 kilometers per hour (31 miles per hour).
The current hypothesis is that the capsule may have become entangled in another vehicle’s tire, taking it further. But there remains concern that it may no longer be in the search zone, e.g. spread by wild animals, including birds.
“Imagine if it was a bird of prey,” said nuclear policy analyst and environmental advocate at the Australian Conservation Foundation, Dave Sweeney.
“For example taking the capsule and taking it away from the (original) search area. There are so many uncertainties and it will cause more problems,” he explained.
Actually, Caesium-137 has a half-life of about 30 years. This means that after three decades, the radioactivity of the capsule will be halved, and after 60 years it will be halved again.
Rio Tinto, is one of the biggest mining giants in the world. The company operates 17 iron ore mines in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
The company’s mining activities have also generated controversy in the past. These include the demolition of two ancient stone shelters in Juukan Gorge in 2020, which prompted the apology and resignation of then CEO Jean-Sébastien Jacques.
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