Urgent search underway for tiny capsule that emits 10 X-rays' worth of radiation every hour
WA authorities are desperate to find a tiny, silver capsule emitting dangerous amounts of radiation which was lost while being transferred from a mine site.
www.abc.net.au
The capsule is tiny – 6mm diameter by 8mm high.
the radiation emitted is equivalent to receiving 10 X-rays in one hour, if you were within one metre of it, or the amount of natural radiation a body is exposed to over a year.
The half-life of the substance is 30 years.
"It emits both beta rays and gamma rays so if you have it close to you, you could either end up with skin damage including skin burns," he said.