January 29, 2024

Radioactive Capsule Lost and Found


Radioactive Capsule Lost and Found
The elusive capsule of cesium-137.  TNG-Group

A capsule of the radioactive isotope cesium-137 was recovered on January 19 after having been lost on January by the oil services company TNG-Group. Researchers lost the capsule, the Telegram channel Baza reported, when the team TNG team was traveling on rough winter roads from Ust-Kutsky in the Irkutsk region to Chayandinskoye in Yakutia. The police were contacted by TNG-Group days later on January 16.

The General Director of TNG-Group, Yan Sharipov, said that the incident is the first time in 70 years that the company has lost any radioactive material, and that the material, encased in its secure container was not dangerous. If the capsule were to be opened, however, that would be a different story. Although TNG-Group announced a reward of R200,000 ($2,270) for any information on the location of the capsule, the reward was not claimed. TNG-Group sent out two search teams of experts with special equipment and investigators. 

On January 19 the capsule was found undamaged and unopened.

Cesium-137 is an isotope of caesium, and is one of the primary sources of radiation still traceable in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

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