Stolen source in San Juan del Río, Queretaro, Mexico

Print View Posted on: 02 March 2017

Event Date: 13 February 2017 Event Type: Transportation
Event Location: Mexico, San Juan del Rio, Queretaro, Mexico INES Rating: 1 (Final)

On February 13th, 2017 at aproximately 11:30 hours (UTC-6) in the 4+500 kilometer highway Palmillas, Apaseo el Alto, in San Juan del Rio, Queretaro, Mexico, a nuclear density gauge was stolen. The device is a density gauge that contains the following radioactive sources:
Am-241/Be with an activity of 50 mCi
Cs-137 with an activity of 10 mCi
These sources are Category 4 in the Categorization of Radioactive Sources of the IAEA.
On February 15th, 2017, the stolen equipment was recovered.
The density gauge was inside its container, and radiation levels of the device were normal, and there was no risk to the public.

INES Rating: 1 - Anomaly (Final) as per 16 February 2017
Release beyond authorized limits? No
Overexposure of a member of the public? No
Overexposure of a worker? No
Contamination spread within the facility? No
Damage to radiological barriers (incl. fuel damage) within the facility? No
Degradation of Defence In-Depth Yes
Person injured physically or casualty? No
Is there a continuing problem? No

Victor Gonzalez
Comision Nacional de Seguridad Nuclear y Salvaguardias
vmgonzalez@cnsns.gob.mx
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