Rio Tinto apologises for losing radioactive capsule in Australia
A tiny radioactive capsule that was being transported across Western Australia went missing, and mining giant Rio Tinto has apologized for the loss.Along the 1,400-kilometer (870-mile) route, an emergency search for the device, which is about the size of a pea, is underway.
There is a small amount of radioactive Caesium-137 in the capsule, which has the potential to cause serious illness in anyone who comes into contact with it.Damage to the skin, burns, or radiation sickness are all examples of this.
The chances of finding the tiny device are “pretty good,” according to emergency services, who are using radiation detectors and other specialized equipment to search for it.