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 30^th May 2009 the portal radiation monitoring system of the “Stomana Industry” S.A. – Pernik detected elevated radiation levels in a scrap loaded railway wagon. The railway wagon was stationed on a separate track on a special platform on-site and was put under surveillance.

The measurements showed slightly elevated radiation levels, up to 0.71 µSv/h on the surface of the wagon – only in a small area on the side. 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 ²²⁶Ra (radium-226) was identified.

On 1^st June 2009 the wagon was partly unloaded. A panel with control devices was found, containing the isotope of ²²⁶Ra as an ingredient of a luminous paint. The measured values of the gamma dose rate at 10 cm were up to 7,3 µSv/h.

After no additional contamination was found inside the wagon, the latter was released for further treatment. The source was put in a safe place for temporary safe storage prior to its disposal by the State Enterprise Radioactive Waste as radioactive waste.

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