Low-activity radioactive equipment stolen in Barcelona
Material considered risk level four out of five, with five being the least dangerous
The Spanish Nuclear Security Council has reported that low-activity radioactive equipment was stolen in Barcelona on Tuesday. It was first reported that the event occurred in La Llagosta, just north of the Catalan capital.
Catalan civil protection agents reported the information on social media and shared that the equipment was stolen on Riera d'Horta street in the neighborhood of Horta-Guinardó.
The equipment is an orange suitcase that measures the density and humidity of soil. It has two radioactive sources and is considered risk level four of a five-level category, with five being the least dangerous.
Category four is considered "very unlikely to harm humans," as the radioactivity that it carries does not represent any radiological risks, while the equipment remains "closed and completed."
However, if the suitcase is opened or destroyed, the two radioactivity sources could be unprotected, posing a potential risk to humans. For this reason, authorities urge those who find it not to play with it and to call emergency services.
The CPN brand equipment has the serial number M300805849 and contains sources Caesium-137 and Americium-241 (Am-241).
The orange material is inside a briefcase measuring 80cm in length, 50cm of width, and 50cm in height.
Both the material and briefcase have a radioactive signal imprinted on them.