Loss of Australia's radioactive and deadly capsule, danger for the next 300 years

Due to the small size of the capsule and large distances, authorities warn that the chances of finding it are slim. It's like looking for a needle in a haystack” There is fear that it may have been transported away from the research zone, creating a radioactive health risk for anyone who could afford it for the next 300 years.

State authorities sounded the alarm Friday, warning residents of the presence of a radioactive spill into a southern state area, including northeastern suburbs of Perth, the state capital, where some 2 million people live.

The mining company, Rio Tinto, apologised on Monday, saying it was supporting the state government's efforts to find the capsule, which contains the Caesium-137, a highly radioactive substance used in mining equipment.

Rio Tinto said he controlled all roads inside and outside the site of the Gudai-Darri Mine in the northern part of Western Australia, where the device was set before a contractor took it south to the state capital, Perth.

Authorities believe that the capsule, which emits gamma rays and beta, fell from the back of a truck moving along a 1400 - mile [1,400 km] section of the Great Northern Highway a distance longer than the California coastline.

According to authorities, the capsule was placed within a package on January 10th and gathered from Rio Tinto's Gudai-Dari mines by a contractor on January 12th.

The vehicle spent four days on the road and arrived in Perth on January 16th, but was fired for inspection on January 25th, when it was discovered missing.

They believe that the strong vibrations caused by the bumpy streets damaged the package, removing an assembly bolt that kept it in place.

Experts have warned that the Caesium-137 could create serious health problems for people who get in touch with it, such as burning skin from close exposure, radiation disease and potentially deadly cancer risks, especially for those who are exposed without knowing of long periods of time.

Taking the capsule would cause serious “damage to your fingers and surrounding tissues, the company said in a statement, while the main concern is the potential impact on the health of the person who found the capsule.

The incident is a shock to experts who said that dealing with radioactive materials such as the Caesium-137 is highly regulated with strict protocols for transport, conservation and annihilation.