A portable nuclear device containing radioactive material that could pose a danger to public safety has disappeared in the US state of Pennsylvania.
Authorities are currently searching for the device, which belongs to the local construction inspectorate of KAKS and Company LLC.
The State Department of the Environment (DEP) said the portable nuclear-powered device was often used on construction sites to “assess the properties of construction and road materials.”
However, people can be exposed to radiation pollution if they are damaged or improperly handled, the agency warned.
It says the nuclear density gauge was safely stored in a vehicle reportedly stolen in Philadelphia.
When the car was found, the gauge was missing.
The agency said it had “the potential for damage to the radioactive source and the spread of contamination” if the device’s closed sources of radioactive material were severely damaged or struck by a vehicle.
David Allard, director of the Radiation Protection Bureau, said in a statement: “It is crucial that anyone who has information about the lost nuclear size is in contact with local authorities or the DEP.
“As long as the device is not tampered with or damaged, it does not pose a danger to public safety.”
Sky News affiliate NBC News reported that environmental authorities believe the gauge may have been damaged after the vehicle was stolen, so officials are urging anyone who encounters the device not to handle it and contact authorities to allow a trained person to restore it.
Exposure to low levels of radiation may not pose an immediate health risk, but it may lead to a small increase in the risk of lifelong cancer, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
High levels of radiation exposure for a short period of time can cause nausea and vomiting.
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