The Thai authorities continue
to search without luck
so far for a cylinder with
radioactive material
that was used in a power plant and on Thursday offered a reward of 100,000 bat
(2,900 dollars)
to anyone who can provide any clues.
The Atoms for Peace Office (the main authority for nuclear research in Thailand) has raised the alert level to 2 (out of a maximum of 4) in Prachinburi province, some 150 kilometers northeast of Bangkok.
They offer US$ 3,000 for the piece, which has a diameter of 12 centimeters, 20 centimeters in length and 25 kilos in weight and is covered with lead (AP).
The cylinder, which contains the radioactive substance Cesium-137 and was located about 15 meters above the ground, was used to
measure the ash level
in the silo of the Prachinburi power station.
It is believed that it could have been lost on February 23 when a worker heard a metallic noise while it was being transported, but the plant reported the loss last Friday.
Lead lined and steel lined
The piece, with a diameter of 12 centimeters, 20 centimeters in length and
25 kilos in weight,
is covered with lead and lined with steel to prevent radioactive material from leaking.
The authorities specify that if it "remains intact" there is no risk to public health and if it is "disarmed" it would imply a radiation radius of between 1-2 meters, which could cause burns to
exposed people.
The place where the tube was lost.
A similar incident was already reported in Thailand in early 2000, when a scrap collector found an abandoned container containing the radioactive material cobalt-60 and dismantled it without knowing the dangerous content it contained.
Another tube with radioactive material that was lost in Australia and was found (AFP).
Authorities learned of the contamination when doctors reported possible
radioactive injuries
to an individual about three weeks after the initial exposure.
A search team was finally able to find the radioactive source in the province of Samut Prakan, adjoining Bangkok, in a case that resulted in the hospitalization of ten people and an estimated 1,872 who were potentially significantly exposed to
radiation
.
EFE Agency.
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