Thai authorities are expanding their search for a missing metal cylinder containing radioactive material that poses a threat to public health.
The 30-centimetre cylinder, which contains the radioactive isotope Caesium-137, was reported missing on February 23 from a steam power plant in Prachinburi province, located 100 kilometres east of Bangkok.
The search has focused on the area’s scrap metal yards, second-hand stores, and junk shops.
Health officials have cautioned that direct contact with radioactive material can cause a range of symptoms, including skin rashes, hair loss, canker sores, fatigue, and vomiting. While short-term contact may not show immediate symptoms, it could increase the risk of cancer.
Thongchai Keeratihuttayakorn, director-general of the Department of Medical Services, warned that Caesium-137 can easily disperse if its container is opened. The authorities fear that the container may have been sold to a scrap metal dealer or is now in a second-hand shop.
This incident is reminiscent of a similar case in Australia two months ago when a tiny radioactive capsule went missing in the country’s remote outback. However, the missing cylinder in Thailand has disappeared from a much more populated area, raising concerns over public safety.
The cylinder, which is said to weigh 25 kilograms, contains highly hazardous Caesium-137 and was being held at the National Power Plant 5A Company facility in Si Maha Phot district of Prachin Buri.
It remains unclear whether the cylinder was taken deliberately or was lost due to human error. The Thai authorities are urging the public to be vigilant and to report any information about the missing cylinder.
