If handled improperly, the little amount of radioactive Caesium-137 inside the case might cause significant disease.
In the middle of January, somewhere along the roughly 1,400 kilometres between the towns of Newman and Perth, it went missing (870 miles).
Anyone who comes across the capsule is strongly advised to keep their distance.
It went missing between January 10-16 while being hauled by truck between a mine location in the Pilbara region’s north of Newman and the northeastern sections of Perth. Mining activities frequently include the usage of cesium-137.
The DFES has said that while the capsule cannot be weaponized, there is a danger of radiation burns and other long-term concerns, such as cancer.
The device emits a “moderate” quantity of radiation, Dr Andrew Robertson, the state’s top health officer and Radiological Council head, stated.
Someone may pick it up without realising what it is, and that’s our biggest fear,” he explained. If they find it intriguing, they could retain it, store it in their room or car, or pass it on to a friend.
It is speculated that the little lost pill contained a “reasonable” dose of radioactive material.
The item is 6mm by 8mm in size, and DFES has produced an illustration of it.
Sites associated with the start and finish of the transit have been investigated, and work is currently underway to pinpoint the precise route and stops made.
Anyone who comes into touch with the item should immediately seek medical attention and report their findings to the DFES.
