Discovered radioactive source in a truck, loaded with scrap metal, in Stomana Industry” S.A.

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

Event description:

During the entrance check of a scrap-loaded truck in “Stomana Industry” S.A. (town of Pernik) a source, containing Ra-226, representing hemi-spherical transparent plastic detail (diameter 4 cm and weight about 30 g), mounted on a metal plate has been discovered.

The NRA emergency centre was notified that on 03^th April 2010 the portal radiation monitoring system of the “Stomana Industry” S.A. – Pernik detected elevated radiation level in a scrap-loaded truck, coming from Pernik. A written notification for the case was received in the NRA on 12^th April. The truck has been stationed on a special platform on site and has been put under surveillance. The detailed measurements have shown slightly elevated radiation levels, up to 0,65 µSv/h, on the surface of a small area on the side of the wagon. As a reference, the values of the natural gamma background in the area of Pernik are between 0,07 and 0,11 µSv/h. Following a field spectrometric analysis, the presence of the radioactive isotope Ra-226 (radium-226) has been identified.

The truck has been partly unloaded. The detail, causing the elevated radiation levels, has been discovered and removed from the scrap. The later represented hemi-spherical transparent plastic detail (diameter 4 cm and weight about 30 g), mounted on a metal plate. The measured values of the gamma dose rate at 1 m have been up to 2 µSv/h. Probably this SIR has been used for building in in trace piles.

The source has been packed and put in a safe place for temporary safe storage, and latter will be disposed as radioactive waste by the State Enterprise “Radioactive Waste”. After additional measurements the truck has been released for unloading.