Case 4  - Discovery of lightning rods found in scrap yard

A regulatory authority was informed by an authorized technical service on increased radiation in a truck loaded with metal scrap (aluminium, copper and others), with dose rate of 84 μSv/h measured on the surface of the truck. 

Response  / Action taken

The truck was loaded in metal scrap yard, which collects metal scrap from all over the country and was intended for export.

The truck was unloaded, and it was found a bale with increased radiation of 372 μSv/h at the surface. Background dose rate measured was 160 nSv/h. The bale was unloaded and 3 radioactive sources found - 3 disks of dismantled radioactive lightning rods with Eu-152. Maximum dose rate measured of all three sources was 10.4 mSv/h.

The radioactive lightning rods found were stored at the temporary storage facility and the origin of the source was domestic, although the specific facility from which the source originated was not known.

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