Cancer-causing 6mm radioactive capsule lost in Australia outback

Tiny device could cause serious illness, say experts, as motorists on 870-mile route told to check tyres

A TINY but dangerous radioactive capsule which can cause cancer and skin burns has been lost in the western Australian outback, triggering an urgent health warning.

As a hunt was launched yesterday, people were warned to stay away from the capsule, which measures just 8mm high and 6mm wide and fell off a truck somewhere on a 870–mile journey between the south-western city of Perth and a mine north of Newman.

The capsule was lost some time after Jan 10 and was intended for use in a radioactive gauge, a device commonly used in mining to measure the density of rocks.

The small, round silver capsule contains a small quantity of radioactive Caesium-137 but “quite a large radiation dose”. It is thought it fell through a bolthole after a bolt was knocked loose by a container collapsing from vibrations on the trip.

At an emergency press conference yesterday, authorities asked motorists who travelled the Great Northern Highway between Newman and Perth since Jan 10 to check their tyres in case the capsule was stuck in them.

They warned that anyone getting close to it would be exposed to the same amount of radiation as 10 X-rays in an hour, or a year’s worth of natural radiation a body is exposed to.

“It emits both beta rays and gamma rays so if you have it close to you, you could either end up with skin damage including skin burns,” Andy Robertson, the chief health officer, said.

“And if you have it long enough near you, it could cause acute radiation sickness. Now that will take a period of time but, obviously, we are recommending people not be close to it or hang on to it.”

Anyone finding the capsule should ring an emergency number but otherwise stay at least five metres away from it, authorities said. Anyone who has touched the capsule should seek medical advice.

While the capsule can make people ill, it cannot be weaponised.

Mr Robertson said their main concern was someone picking up the capsule, which is about the size of an Australian 10 cent piece, without realising it was dangerous.

“They may think it is something interesting and keep it, or keep it in their room, keep it in their car, or give it to someone,” he said.

“One of the long-term risks of being exposed to a source like this is cancer,” he added. “Obviously, we feel that it is important that we warn the community that if they do come across this source, they need to take great care.”

David Gill, the department of fire and emergency services country north chief superintendent, admitted it would be difficult to find such a tiny object in such a large area.

“The start and finish of the transportation from the mine site north of Newman, and the transport depot in Perth, are among some of the locations that were searched ... but the capsule remains unfound,” he said.

“There are challenges here. It is 1,400 kilometres (870 miles) between the mine site and Perth.”