Rio Tinto has apologized for the loss of a small radioactive capsule that went missing during shipment across Western Australia.
Along the 1,400km (870 miles) course, an emergency search for the pea-sized gadget is currently underway.
The capsule includes a small amount of radioactive Caesium-137, which could cause severe disease if inhaled.
This could include skin injury, radiation sickness, or burns.
Using radiation detectors and other specialised equipment, emergency services are “very likely” to find the device.
However, according to Australia’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services, the silver capsule, which measures just 6mm (0.24 inches) in diameter and 8mm in length, was so small that it could have become caught in the tire of a passing vehicle.
Additionally, there is concern that if it is discovered by a member of the public, they may keep it as a memento.
Holding the capsule could result in radiation burns, and long-term exposure could lead to cancer.
The capsule may have been lost as recently as two weeks ago.
Rio Tinto, which has substantial mining interests in Australia and has been involved in various disputes, apologised for the fear.
In a statement, the company announced that it would conduct its inquiry into the incident.
The missing item is a density gauge, a common instrument in the mining business. It was utilized at the Rio Tinto mine in the remote Kimberley region, Gudai-Darri.
On January 12, a subcontractor removed the gauge from the mine site and stored it in Perth’s northeast suburbs.
When it was unpacked for inspection on January 25th, the gauge was shattered and the radioactive capsule was missing. Additionally, one of the four mounting bolts and screws was missing.
Authorities believed vibrations during shipment dislodged the nuts, allowing the capsule to fall through casing and vehicle gaps.
The search path is extensive. Comparable to the road distance between John O’Groats, Scotland, and Land’s End, Cornwall, or Washington, DC, and Orlando, Florida.
Specialized radiation-detecting equipment is currently being installed on patrol cars that will traverse the perimeter. They will travel 50 km/h in both directions on the Great Northern Highway for five days (30mph).
CEO of Rio Tinto’s iron ore division, Simon Trott, stated: “As part of our review, we’re collaborating closely with the contractor to determine what went wrong.
“Before the gadget arrived at Rio Tinto’s location in Perth, the device was securely packaged by a third-party contractor with the necessary skills and accreditation.
Rio Tinto apologises for Australia radioactive capsule loss
Mr. Trott continued, “Before the device left the site, a Geiger counter [a device for detecting radiation] was used to validate the presence of the capsule within the box.”
Western Australia’s radiation notice warns against debris contact.
Andrew Robertson, the chief health officer for Western Australia, compared exposure to trace quantities of the metal to receiving 10 X-rays in an hour and the amount of natural radiation we would receive in a year simply by strolling around.
The state’s desert is one of the least populous regions in the nation and is located in a remote area. One out of every five Western Australians resides outside of Perth, the state capital.
Mr. Robertson said, “If you come into contact with it or are near it, you could sustain skin damage, including skin burns… and if you are near it for an extended length of time, it could cause acute radiation sickness, which takes time to develop.”
Rio Tinto is trying to regain trust in Australia after destroying sacred Aboriginal rock shelters in Western Australia.
Rio Tinto smashed the 46,000-year-old rock shelters at Juukan Gorge to develop an iron ore mine in 2020. Prompting a massive protest that resulted in the resignation of several of the company’s top executives.
And a year ago, a parliamentary probe determined that sexual harassment was widespread in Australia’s mining industries after an internal examination at Rio Tinto revealed that over twenty women had claimed actual or attempted rape or sexual assault during five years.
