Missing radioactive capsule sparks urgent health alert in Western Australia

Hazardous material experts searching for 8mm by 6mm capsule believed to have fallen from truck as it was travelling from Pilbara to Perth

Guardian staff
Fri 27 Jan 2023 03.01 EST

A tiny radioactive capsule with the potential to cause skin burns has gone missing as it was transported from a mine in Western Australia.

Hazardous material experts are searching for the 8mm by 6mm capsule, which is believed to have fallen from a truck as it was travelling the 1,400km between a mine site north of Newman in the Pilbara and a depot in Perth.

At an emergency press conference on Friday, the WA chief health officer, Andy Robertson, said the capsule, which is only 6mm by 8mm, emits a “reasonable” amount of radiation.

“Our concern is that someone will pick it up, not knowing what it is,” he said. “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.

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