TEMPO.CO, Mexico City - Mexican authorities on Wednesday have recovered a truck carrying radioactive medical equipments. The truck was reported stolen by gunmen from a gas station two days ago.The radioactive material, cobalt-60, was found about a half mile from the truck, said Juan Eibenschutz, director general of the National Commission of Nuclear Safety and Safeguards.
The International Atomic Energy Agency earlier stated the radiotherapy material used in cancer treatment "could be extremely dangerous to a person if removed from the shielding, or if it was damaged". Eibenschutz also mentioned that direct exposure to the radioactive isotope would result in death within few minutes. "This (Cobalt-60) is a radioactive source that is very strong," he added.
Eibenschutz said the thieves had not targeted the material, but most likely just wanting the white 2007 Volkswagen cargo vehicle with a movable platform and crane. The material could not be used to make a nuclear bomb, but could be used in a dirty bomb, a conventional explosive that disseminates radioactive material.
USA TODAY | TRIP B
