 INES 1 |
Theft of two low activity radioactive sources in Palaiseau |
The French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) was notified on June 14th about the theft of two portable devices for detecting lead within paintwork containing each of them a low activity Cobalt 57 source.
These devices were stolen in Palaiseau (South of Paris) during a transportation carried out by the FEDEX Company, just before their delivery to the PROTEC Company, their official provider in France. The lorry carrying them was entirely cleaned out of its load following to an armed robbery.
Each device, a LPA1 type from PROTEC, is made of a rectangular metal box with the radioactive trefoil sign. It weighed about 1 kg with an approximate size of 20 cm x 10 cm x 5 cm.
In normal conditions of transport and use, the devices do not present particular hazards for people located in the immediate vicinity
However the ASN recommends to prevent any handling of dismantling attempt, which can only be performed by specialised experts.
These devices do not show any interest outside of their original purpose.
Any person who finds these devices is requested to immediately notify the French Nuclear Safety Authority.
The ASN has rated this event at level 1 on INES scale as applied to the transportation of radioactive material.
Event date: Mon, 14-06-2004
