Discovered radioactive source in a railway wagon, loaded with scrap metal

Site with SIR or place of the event: “Stomana Industry” S.A.– Pernik

Event description:

The Emergency centre of the NRA was notified that on 10^th Februaryr 2009 that the portal radiation monitoring system of the “Stomana Industry” S.A. – Pernik detected elevated radiation level in a scrap loaded railway wagon. The railway wagon has been stationed on a separate track on a special platform on-site and has been put under surveillance.

The measurements have shown elevated radiation levels, up to 9 µSv/h on the surface of a small area on the top of the wagon. As a reference, the values of the natural gamma background in the area of the Pernik town are between 0,07 and 0,11 µSv/h. Following a field spectrometric analysis, the radioactive isotope ¹³⁷Cs (cesium-137) has been identified.

Emergency team compost by representatives from the NRA, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Emergency Situations unloaded the wagon. Small cylindrical container (with diameter around 8 cm and height around 18 cm) has been found, containing the isotope of ¹³⁷Cs. The source ia part for level gauge.

No additional contamination was found inside the wagon. The wagon was released for further treatment. The source will be disposed as radioactive waste by the State Enterprise “Radioactive Waste”.

There is no any danger for the population and the environment.