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 7^th October 2008 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 5 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 the Pernik town are between 0,07 and 0,11 µSv/h. Following a field spectrometric analysis, the radioactive isotope Ra-226 (Radium-226) has been identified.

The radioactive source was a part of a vehicle gauge – counter.

After additional measurements the wagon was released for unloading. The source was put in a safe place for temporary safe storage, before the permanent disposal as radioactive waste by the State Enterprise “Radioactive Waste”.

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