It is not the first time something like this has happened in Thailand. They are still investigating whether the missing cylinder was taken to this factory and whether the caesium detected came from the missing cylinder. “The only risk becomes if the caesium source is separated from the housing.”īut that concern may now have become a reality.ĭays after the cylinder was reported missing from a coal power plant in Thailand, authorities detected caesium-137 radiation from iron dust in a smelter at an iron melting factory around 6 miles (10 km) from the plant. “It appears to be 100% in the housing which is lead lined so it’s a bit safer than just a source lying on the size of the road,” Steen told CNN. The Prachinburi Provincial Public Relations Office/AP The missing radioactive cylinder in Thailand is a steel tube, 30 cm (12 inches) long with a diameter of 13 cm (5 inches). The risk of radiation exposure from the camera that went missing in Texas is “very low” especially because the radioactive material is encapsulated by multiple layers of protection, officials said. Much depends on the type of radioactive isotope within a device and whether it is contained within shielding or open to the elements. How dangerous are the missing radioactive items? The capsule that went missing in Australia, for example, was used in a density gauge by the mining company Rio Tinto.Īdditionally, radioactive substances are used in hospitals to diagnose and treat various cancers or to sanitize blood for transfusions, according to David McIntyre, a public affairs officers for the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Radioactive substances can also be found in gauges that test soil. In construction, radiographic cameras, like the one that went missing in the US, can be used to inspect the integrity of ships, pipes and other small spaces, according to the National Nuclear Security Administration. Radioactive materials have a variety of industrial uses, like the cylinder that went missing in Thailand which measured ash at a coal power plant. “Hundreds of thousands” of these sources are “used and transported without issue every day”, Lauren Steen, general manager of Radiation Services WA, a consultancy that writes about radiation management plans in Australia, told CNN. Radioactive sources are more prevalent than most people might realize. What are these radioactive sources used for? The radiation these elements emit come in the form of alpha, beta and gamma rays which, depending on their concentration, can be dangerous.īut their unique properties also make them useful for a host of applications, from killing cancerous cells to making incredibly precise measurements. These chemicals can be found naturally but many are created artificially. All orders received before 4.What do a capsule in Australia, a cylinder in Thailand and a camera in the US have in common?Īll three contained radioactive material and went missing over the past three months, in what experts say is a hugely rare coincidence that nonetheless raises safety questions about what are a fascinating – and incredibly useful – set of substances.Ī radioactive isotope, also known as a radioisotope, is an unstable form of a chemical element that breaks down over time in the form of radiation. We always provide photographs of our old and used items, so you can see exactly what you are buying. All in all a wonderful example of a vintage The Man From Uncle Annual from yesteryear. Shows the original purchase price of 10/6 inside the front cover. Internally the book is in very good condition, all 95 pages are present and attached, they are bright and clean and without any form of writing or damage on any page other than, a name has been wrote inside the front cover. The spline is also in very good solid condition other than a small paper tear of about half inch at the top which has been neatly repaired. The front and back covers are nice and bright, with only very minor signs of shelf wear on the very tips of the corner edges. This annual is in very good condition for its age, which is amazing considering that it is now over 50 years old. Released by World Distributors in late 1967, this fantastic The Man From Uncle Annual features original stories, strip stories, features, information, quizzes and games featuring Mr Napoleon Solo and Mr Illya Kuryakin.
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