Australia Recovers Tiny Radioactive Container in the Desert

Australia Recovers Tiny Radioactive Container in the Desert

Australian officials on Wednesday recovered a powerfully radioactive container that was lost in the desert.

Officials said a team found the small container, or capsule, after days of searching, involving about 100 people along 1,400 kilometers of highway. The capsule is smaller than a coin, a piece of metal money.

The capsule contained Caesium-137, a highly radioactive material. It was lost while being transported more than two weeks ago. A vehicle equipped with special detection equipment picked up the radiation from the capsule, officials from the state of Western Australia said.

The search team then used smaller detection equipment to find the capsule itself. It was about two meters from the side of the road in an area far from any community, officials added.

The mining company Rio Tinto used the radioactive capsule to measure the density¹ of iron ore in the Gudai-Darri mine in the Australian state's remote Kimberley area.

Rio Tinto was sending the capsule to a center near the state capital, Perth. The distance from Kimberly to Perth is greater than length of the Island of Great Britain.

Simon Trott, the head of iron ore for Rio Tinto, said the company would pay for the cost of the search if asked by the state government.

"We're sorry that that has occurred and we're sorry for the concern that that has caused within the Western Australian community," he said.

Australians had been told to stay at least five meters away if they saw the capsule. Exposure to radiation could cause radiation burns or sickness. But, driving past was said to be low risk.

Western Australia's Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said the discovery was an "extraordinary result." The search involved the state's emergency response department, defense² officials and radiation experts.

People are not permitted to go within 20 meters of the capsule while defense officials confirm it through a serial³ number. It will then be placed in a lead container and kept in a secure place in Newman. Newman is a town about 1,200 kilometers north-west of Perth. It will be taken to the state capital on Thursday.

The capsule is only six millimeters across and eight millimeters long. But, it contains Caesium-137. The small amount can release radiation equal to 10 X-rays every hour.

Officials said the capsule fell off a truck and landed on the side of the road. Officials added that it was unlikely contamination in the area would be a problem.

Seeking Answers

Rio Tinto said in a statement that it would investigate whether it should have hired specialist contractors⁴. SGS Australia prepared the capsule and Centurion⁵ transported it.

Centurion said it is investigating how the capsule fell off the truck. The container provided by SGS arrived in Perth in the same condition in which it was sent. Technical GPS information showed the truck did not suddenly change speed.

Western Australia's Chief Health Officer Andrew Robertson said there would be an investigation⁶. He said officials would consider charges under the state's radiation safety laws from 1975.

The highest fine for failing to safely deal with radioactive substances is about $700. The state government said on Wednesday it was considering a change to permit bigger fines.

But officials said they may not use new laws against Rio Tinto for this incident.

Words in This Story

radioactive — adj. releasing a powerful and dangerous form of atomic radiation

capsule — n. a (usually very small) container

detection — n. the active of finding something that you are looking for

contamination — n. the addition of something that is not supposed to be in a place or substance which is often harmful

iron ore — n. rocks that contain minerals with the element iron in them

remote — adj. far away from things like houses, people or cities

1 density   

n.密集，密度，浓度

参考例句：

• The population density of that country is 685 per square mile.那个国家的人口密度为每平方英里685人。
• The region has a very high population density.该地区的人口密度很高。

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

3 serial   

n.连本影片，连本电视节目；adj.连续的

参考例句：

• A new serial is starting on television tonight.今晚电视开播一部新的电视连续剧。
• Can you account for the serial failures in our experiment?你能解释我们实验屡屡失败的原因吗？

4 contractors   

n.（建筑、监造中的）承包人( contractor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We got estimates from three different contractors before accepting the lowest. 我们得到3个承包商的报价后，接受了最低的报价。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Contractors winning construction jobs had to kick back 2 per cent of the contract price to the mafia. 赢得建筑工作的承包商得抽出合同价格的百分之二的回扣给黑手党。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 centurion   

n.古罗马的百人队长

参考例句：

• When Jesus had entered Capernaum,a centurion came to him,asking for help.耶稣进了迦百农，有一个百夫长前来求助。
• A centurion was in charge of 100 soldiers.一个百夫长管理100个士兵。

6 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。