Alert Issued After Radioactive Package Goes Missing at Madrid Airport
The Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) has raised alarms following the disappearance of a transport package containing four selenium (Se75) radioactive sources at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport. The package was expected to arrive at the cargo terminal, but its current location is still unaccounted for.
In a statement shared by Europa Press, the CSN revealed that these four radioactive sources are properly encapsulated and shielded to mitigate radiation exposure. They are categorized as level 2 in a severity classification system developed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which ranges from 1 to 5. Category 2 materials are considered very dangerous as their radioactivity can pose significant radiological risks if the shielding is compromised.
According to the CSN, as long as the four radioactive sources remain secure within the transport package, they do not pose any danger to the public. The package in question is identified as a BU container model NE4C that contains the four encapsulated Se75 sources designated for commercial purposes. It is marked with the appropriate labeling, including the trefoil symbol and the word 'RADIOACTIVE.'
Selenium-75 is a radioactive isotope used primarily in industrial radiography applications. In light of the situation, the CSN has issued a strong recommendation to anyone who might come across the missing package: do not attempt to handle it and instead, immediately notify the authorities.
The circumstances surrounding the package's disappearance highlight the critical importance of tracking radioactive materials and ensuring they remain secure. Authorities continue to investigate the matter, emphasizing the need for vigilance within sectors handling such sensitive materials.
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