VOA新闻杂志2023 澳大利亚丢失的放射性胶囊已被找回

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

澳大利亚官员周三找回了一枚丢失在沙漠中的具有强放射性的容器。

Officials said a team found the small container, or capsule, after days of searching, involving about 100 people along 1,400 kilometers of highway.

官员们表示，大约100人在1400公里长的高速公路上经过数天的搜寻后，最终搜寻小组找到了这枚胶囊。

The capsule is smaller than a coin, a piece of metal money.

该胶囊比一枚硬币（即一块金属货币）还小。

The capsule contained Caesium-137, a highly radioactive material.

该胶囊中含有高放射性物质铯-137。

It was lost while being transported more than two weeks ago.

两个多星期前，它在运输途中丢失。

A vehicle equipped with special detection equipment picked up the radiation from the capsule, officials from the state of Western Australia said.

西澳大利亚州的官员说，一辆装有特殊探测设备的车探测到了该胶囊的辐射。

The search team then used smaller detection equipment to find the capsule itself.

搜寻队随后使用较小的探测设备找到了胶囊。

It was about two meters from the side of the road in an area far from any community, officials added.

官员们还说，胶囊丢失地距离路边约两米，远离任何社区。

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.

矿业公司力拓集团使用该放射性胶囊测量位于西澳大利亚州偏远地区金伯利的Gudai-Darri铁矿的铁矿石密度。

Rio Tinto was sending the capsule to a center near the state capital, Perth.

力拓集团将胶囊送往该州首府珀斯附近的一个中心。

The distance from Kimberly to Perth is greater than length of the Island of Great Britain.

从金伯利到珀斯的距离比大不列颠岛的长度还要长。

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.

力拓集团铁矿石业务负责人西蒙·特罗特表示，如果州政府要求，该公司将会支付搜寻费用。

"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.

他说：“我们对发生这种事情感到抱歉，我们对此事在西澳大利亚社区内引起的担忧感到抱歉。”

Australians had been told to stay at least five meters away if they saw the capsule.

澳大利亚人被告知，如果他们看到该胶囊，要与其保持至少五米远的距离。

Exposure to radiation could cause radiation burns or sickness.

暴露在辐射中可能会导致放射烧伤或疾病。

But, driving past was said to be low risk.

但是，据说开车经过的风险很低。

Western Australia's Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said the discovery was an "extraordinary result."

西澳大利亚州紧急服务部部长斯蒂芬·道森表示，这一发现是一个“非同寻常的结果”。

The search involved the state's emergency response department, defense² officials and radiation experts.

该州应急部门、国防官员和辐射专家参与了此次搜索任务。

People are not permitted to go within 20 meters of the capsule while defense officials confirm it through a serial³ number.

在国防部官员通过序列号确认期间，不允许人们进入该胶囊所在地的20米范围内。

It will then be placed in a lead container and kept in a secure place in Newman.

然后，它将会被放置在一个铅容器中，并保存在纽曼的一个安全的地方。

Newman is a town about 1,200 kilometers north-west of Perth.

纽曼是珀斯西北约1200公里处的一个小镇。

It will be taken to the state capital on Thursday.

它将于周四被送往该州首府。

The capsule is only six millimeters across and eight millimeters long.

这个胶囊只有6毫米宽，8毫米长。

But, it contains Caesium-137.

但是，它含有铯-137。

The small amount can release radiation equal to 10 X-rays every hour.

少量铯-137每小时辐射量相当于1小时接受10次X射线检查受到的辐射。

Officials said the capsule fell off a truck and landed on the side of the road.

官员们说，该胶囊从一辆卡车上掉下来，落在了路边。

Officials added that it was unlikely contamination in the area would be a problem.

官员们还说，该地区的污染不太可能成为问题。

Rio Tinto said in a statement that it would investigate whether it should have hired specialist contractors⁴.

力拓集团在一份声明中表示，它将会调查是否应该雇佣专业承包商。

SGS Australia prepared the capsule and Centurion⁵ transported it.

澳大利亚SGS准备好了胶囊，百夫长运输公司运送了它。

Centurion said it is investigating how the capsule fell off the truck.

百夫长运输公司表示，他们正在调查胶囊是如何从卡车上掉下来的。

The container provided by SGS arrived in Perth in the same condition in which it was sent.

SGS提供的容器到达珀斯时的状态与发货时的状态相同。

Technical GPS information showed the truck did not suddenly change speed.

GPS技术信息显示，卡车并没有突然改变速度。

Western Australia's Chief Health Officer Andrew Robertson said there would be an investigation⁶.

西澳大利亚州首席卫生官安德鲁·罗伯逊表示，将进行调查。

He said officials would consider charges under the state's radiation safety laws from 1975.

他说，官员们将考虑根据该州1975年颁布的辐射安全法提出指控。

The highest fine for failing to safely deal with radioactive substances is about $700.

未能安全处理放射性物质的最高罚款约为700美元。

The state government said on Wednesday it was considering a change to permit bigger fines.

州政府周三表示，其正在考虑做出改变，以处以更高的罚款。

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

但官员们表示，他们可能不会因为这起事件而对力拓集团使用新法律。

I'm Dan Novak.

丹·诺瓦克为您播报。

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。