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Authorities in Western Australia on Wednesday recovered a small but dangerous radioactive capsule that fell from a truck while being transported 1,400 kilometers on a highway last month in what officials said was like finding a needle in a haystack.
Officials say the pea-sized capsule was found south of Newman on the Great Northern Highway. It was detected by a search vehicle traveling at a speed of 70 km/h when specialist equipment picked up the radiation emitted from the capsule.
A portable search device is then used to locate two meters from the side of the road.
“This is a remarkable result … they have found a needle in a haystack,” Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said.
Chief Medical Officer Andy Robertson said the capsule was not displaced and no injuries were reported.
It contains a ceramic source of cesium 137, commonly used in radiation meters, which emits a dangerous amount of radiation, equivalent to receiving 10 X-rays in an hour. It can cause skin burns and prolonged exposure can cause cancer.
Search crews have spent six days searching the entire highway.
The capsules measure eight millimeters by six millimetres, and people have been warned that they can unknowingly slip into car tyres.
Lost in transit from mine site to Perth
A government investigation has been launched into how the capsule fell from the truck and a report will be submitted to the health minister.
Defense officials have verified the identification of the capsule, which was placed in a lead container for security. It will be stored in a secure location in Newman before being transported to a health facility in the city of Perth.
The capsule went missing while being transported between the desert mine site and Perth on January 10. The truck carrying the capsules arrived at the Perth depot on January 16. Emergency services were notified of the missing capsule on January 25.
The chief executive of mining giant Rio Tinto Iron Ore, Simon Trott, apologized for the incident.
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