The transfer of radioactive material is much more prolific than many people realize. In the United States, each year there are more than three million shipments of radioactive material – and tens of millions more internationally. Shipments are completed in different ways, but the most common way is highway transportation. While there are strict regulations, there is the potential for disaster. Recently, in Australia, a dangerous radioactive device went missing after falling down a long stretch of desert highway. There is now a massive search underway, as no one knows the whereabouts of the device.
A mining company in Australia lost a radioactive capsule when it fell from a truck
The truck loaded the small radioactive device at the Godai Dare mine site in Western Australia on January 12. The silver capsule is eight millimeters (about 0.3 inches) long, and contains cesium-137, which emits the equivalent of 10 X-rays. per hour. The device is part of a scale used by a mining company to measure the density of the iron ore feed.
the gauge screws are missing, and one of the four screws is missing.
While no one knows for sure, authorities believe vibrations from the truck caused screws and bolts to loosen. Then, the radioactive device likely fell out of the packaging – and then through a gap into the truck.
Loss of device sparked radioactive alert in Western Australia – and searches along 870-mile stretch of motorway
The loss of the capsule triggered a radiological alert in Western Australia on January 27. Exposure to cesium-137 can cause radiation burns and radiation sickness. If encountering the device, authorities recommend staying at least five meters (16.5 feet) away from it. Authorities also asked drivers who traveled on the same stretch of the Great Northern Highway to check their vehicles. This is due to the possibility of the capsule becoming lodged in the tire tread.
There is now an extensive search underway to find the capsule. However, this is a very difficult task. Besides the device’s small size, finding it is a challenge due to the long mile of the Great Northern Highway that the truck traveled. It started at the Juday Dare mine near the small town of Newman in the Kimberley region, then traveled 870 miles to a storage center near Perth.
To put that distance into perspective, it’s roughly the distance it takes to travel from the southern point on the Mexican border – to the northern state border with Oregon. It’s a hard search. For the research, the Western Australian Department of Emergency Services formed a risk management team. They also brought in specialized equipment, including radiological scanning counters. The survey meters, which can operate from moving vehicles, detect radiation levels across a radius of 20 meters (65.6 feet).
Regulations and safety measures for shipping radioactive materials
Trucks, planes, boats, and trains transport various forms of radioactive material. Besides mining scale, radioactive material uses include medicine, manufacturing, power generation, and the military. Transport-related accidents such as a radioactive device falling off a truck in Australia are very rare. However, due to the danger and possibility of disaster, there are regulations and safety measures.
As detailed before, the amount of radiation is the biggest determinant of how well the charge is organized – and how it is transported. If there is little radioactivity, there are limited or no controls. However, highly radioactive materials require more safety and controlled pathways. Also, in some cases, there are notifications for local and state officials. In addition, carriers use special packaging and labeling when shipping radioactive materials.
As mentioned earlier, most of the radioactive materials are shipped via trucks on highways. For this method, carriers carefully choose shipping methods, especially for high-radiation materials. Sometimes, there is a police escort for extra security. Furthermore, drivers transporting radioactive materials must be trained in radiation emergency safety and basic radiation science.
