Lost radioactive material
An urgent search is under way in Western Australia after a capsule containing a radioactive substance went missing.
The casing contains a small quantity of radioactive Caesium-137, which could cause serious illness if touched.
It was lost between the town of Newman and the city of Perth in mid-January - a distance of roughly 1,400km (870 miles).
The public has been warned to stay away from the capsule if they see it.
radioactive = 放射性
substance (formal) = type of thing (e.g. oil, mud, gold, water)
Caesium = (Cs) = セシウム
roughly = around
warn (verb) = tell someone about danger or a problem
How big do you think the capsule is?
How do you think the company lost it?
Do you think they can find it? How?
This is commonly used in mining. The company believes it’s case broke because of the vibrations while driving. It then fell through the small holes in the floor onto the ground outside.
Special Radiation Detection equipment was used to find it
If you play with it or stay near it for a while, there is a risk of skin burns and cancer.
It was located on February 1st, 2 weeks after it was lost. The search team said they had "found the needle in the haystack".
Idiom: “It’s like finding a needle in a haystack”
What do you think this means?
If this accident happened in Japan, how would people react?
How would the company be punished?
Do you think radioactive material gets lost often? Why?
In 2021, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said radioactive material went missing every three days!
Since tracking began in 1993, they estimate 4000 radioactive sources have gone missing.
8% - stolen
65% - lost accidentally
17% - no idea
Are these numbers surprising to you?
What is radioactive material used for in daily life?
old TVs, smoke deterctors, neon exit signs, heart scans, luminescent watch hands, cancer treatment
Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-64429375
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-64448879
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-64512297