Radioactive material stolen in burglary.

tosspot15 · 02-10-2013 06:17PM #1

http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/1002/477847-radioactive-material/

Gardaí have issued a warning to the public after radioactive material was taken in a burglary in Swords, Co Dublin over the weekend.
Seven lightning preventers, which were contained in a red metal box, were taken during the course of the burglary.
They have the appearance of aluminium or stainless steel, but are of no scrap value.
Gardaí said these are highly dangerous and should not be touched or approached.
The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland said: "If handled, they will cause radioactive contamination to the person's hands and clothing with the possibly of internal radioactive contamination."
Close proximity to them will result in a person exceeding the annual radiation dose limit in a matter of hours.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Swords Garda Station on 01-6664700 or the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland on 01-2066913.

I wonder just how dangerous these items actually are?
Somehow I feel like the people who robbed it will get what they deserve if they end up suffering from the effects of radiation, but its most likely that these will end up in some dump somewhere and do damage to somebody innocent and the environment.

Santa Cruz · 02-10-2013 06:23PM

Hopefully they will glow in the dark and it will be easier to spot them when they are out robbing.

Jester252 · 02-10-2013 06:25PM

YOLO

tallus · 02-10-2013 06:33PM

I sure hope they don't get a dose of radiation sickness. (Not)
Hopefully it'll be the last time this scumbag steals.

j.s. pill II · 02-10-2013 06:35PM

Something similar occurred in Brazil in 1987 - wasn't a very happy ending!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goi%C3%A2nia_accident

Frank Black · 02-10-2013 06:36PM

tosspot15 wrote: »

Somehow I feel like the people who robbed it will get what they deserve if they end up suffering from the effects of radiation,

There's also the possibility that they may gain some kind of super-human powers and then use those powers for evil.

JackieChan · 02-10-2013 06:47PM

j.s. pill II wrote: »

Something similar occurred in Brazil in 1987 - wasn't a very happy ending!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goi%C3%A2nia_accident

Wow, never heard of that incident. I wonder how radioactive the items in this theft are.

genericguy · 02-10-2013 06:54PM

JackieChan wrote: »

Wow, never heard of that incident. I wonder how radioactive the items in this theft are.

About 6 radioactive I think

nyarlothothep · 02-10-2013 07:03PM

They didn't see the radiation sign with danger written underneath?

02-10-2013 07:04PM

I wonder who was burgled and why they had such items

Miss Lockhart · 02-10-2013 07:04PM

j.s. pill II wrote: »

Something similar occurred in Brazil in 1987 - wasn't a very happy ending!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goi%C3%A2nia_accident

Thanks for the link. Fascinating stuff!

I hope this incident doesn't have the potential to turn out so badly.

DarkJager · 02-10-2013 07:05PM

nyarlothothep wrote: »

They didn't see the radiation sign with danger written underneath?

They're scumbags so they probably can't read. Hope it ****ing kills them painfully.

02-10-2013 07:05PM

nyarlothothep wrote: »

They didn't see the radiation sign with danger written underneath?

Derek Zoolander school for people who cant read really , really good?

02-10-2013 07:06PM

DarkJager wrote: »

They're scumbags so they probably can't read. Hope it ****ing kills them painfully.

Id love to be a fly on the wall, when word of what they have stolen, reaches them...

4zn76tysfajdxp · 02-10-2013 07:07PM

Hopefully it was a load of crazed Libyans trying to get a bomb from some wide eyed mad-scientist.

02-10-2013 07:09PM

j.s. pill II wrote: »

Something similar occurred in Brazil in 1987 - wasn't a very happy ending!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goi%C3%A2nia_accident

Holy. Shit.

I hope whoever has it now will know just how dangerous it is and give it back.

Elbaston · 02-10-2013 07:10PM

ha ha ha ... only in Japan

what ? where ?

Renegade Mechanic · 02-10-2013 07:16PM

Why does everyone want them to die? Maybe theyre gonna make a mini nuke and put it under the dáil?

bodice ripper · 02-10-2013 07:18PM

Renegade Mechanic wrote: »

Why does everyone want them to die?

Why does everyone want the to die? Maybe they were just involved in a relatively minor burglary?

02-10-2013 07:19PM

Renegade Mechanic wrote: »

Why does everyone want them to die? Maybe theyre gonna make a mini nuke and put it under the dáil?

whos everyone, pretty sure I never wished them dead

Elbaston · 02-10-2013 07:24PM

Jake1 wrote: »

whos everyone, pretty sure I never wished them dead

Mad isn't it.
You can just feel the anger radiating.

Banjo String · 02-10-2013 07:25PM

Call off the search.

Passed this in south county Dublin earlier.

Wibbs · 02-10-2013 07:30PM

JackieChan wrote: »

Wow, never heard of that incident. I wonder how radioactive the items in this theft are.

They had radioactive caesium in the source which is a right bastard as it's so easily absorbed by body tissues. The stuff nicked today may well be radioactive, which is never good, however they may not be that dangerous. People forget that up until the 1950's or so you could buy radium dialed watches* and clocks and radium is extremely active, yet few fatalities if any are reported for end users. Fatalities were reported for the women who worked at dial painting, but even there, though a terrible tragedy the doses they were absorbing were enormous. Some women used to joke around and paint their teeth and nails so they would glow in the dark. You could buy radium paint over the counter to paint lightswitches even shoelace ends and whole slippers so you could find them in the dark, I kid thee not folks.

We've become rightfully a lot more cautious about this stuff, but I'd not be neckin the iodine tablets just yet.

*FYI if you have an old watch that has a radium dial be careful. I'd not wear it in bed anyway and NEVER open the back. It doesn't matter if it doesn't glow anymore. Radium itself emits very little light, it was added phospor material that glowed, but over the years the radium burns it out ta fuq. I had a 1930's watch that nearly broke the scale of a geiger counter(and gave me a case of the trots when I saw this), so I had it professionally cleaned. I have an altimeter and compass from a WW2 Stuka Divebomber and they're so thickly painted with globs of radium you can still see an eerie glow from them. TBH even they don't register if you're a meter or so away, but will damn near blow a geiger counter speaker at a CM away from the dials. They live in my shed well away from the house with a lead sheet over them busily mutating my spiders...

nyarlothothep · 02-10-2013 07:30PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Holy. Shit.

I hope whoever has it now will know just how dangerous it is and give it back.

They might not want to get jailed and so they'll dispose of it somehow, hopefully not in a river or place that contaminates the whole area and other areas. If they couldn't read the radiation sign I'm doubtful as to whether they would have enough cop on to own up rather than causing widespread radiation sickness.

Then there is the remote possibility that they're not ordinary thieves at all...

goose2005 · 02-10-2013 07:32PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Holy. Shit.

I hope whoever has it now will know just how dangerous it is and give it back.

Big difference between the two. The Goania source was 93 g of caesium-137 emitting 51 trillion becquerels. This (http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q9776.html) estimates that a lightning rod will emit about 37 - 370 million. More importantly, Am-241 and Ra-226 only emit alpha particles and so are unlikely to be harmful unless eaten.

downonthefarm · 02-10-2013 07:34PM

up and atom

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 02-10-2013 07:35PM

Wibbs wrote: »

*FYI if you have an old watch that has a radium dial be careful. I'd not wear it in bed anyway and NEVER open the back. It doesn't matter if it doesn't glow anymore. Radium itself emits very little light, it was added phospor material that glowed, but over the years the radium burns it out ta fuq. I had a 1930's watch that nearly broke the scale of a geiger counter(and gave me a case of the trots when I saw this), so I had it professionally cleaned. I have an altimeter and compass from a WW2 Stuka Divebomber and they're so thickly painted with globs of radium you can still see an eerie glow from them. TBH even they don't register if you're a meter or so away, but will damn near blow a geiger counter speaker at a CM away from the dials. They live in my shed well away from the house with a lead sheet over them busily mutating my spiders...

what use do you think you're going to have for a radioactive compass in the future?

Wibbs · 02-10-2013 07:40PM

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

what use do you think you're going to have for a radioactive compass in the future?

I'm planning ahead SDCC. I'm building a Stuka in my shed bit by bit in case the Russians or the Brits decide to invade... Have the tailwheel and a chunk of the bomb arming circuitry somewhere too. *twitches*

ThePieintheSky · 02-10-2013 07:41PM

Very funny story.

cml387 · 02-10-2013 07:41PM

Wibbs wrote: »

*FYI if you have an old watch that has a radium dial be careful. I'd not wear it in bed anyway and NEVER open the back. It doesn't matter if it doesn't glow anymore. Radium itself emits very little light, it was added phospor material that glowed, but over the years the radium burns it out ta fuq. I had a 1930's watch that nearly broke the scale of a geiger counter(and gave me a case of the trots when I saw this), so I had it professionally cleaned. I have an altimeter and compass from a WW2 Stuka Divebomber and they're so thickly painted with globs of radium you can still see an eerie glow from them. TBH even they don't register if you're a meter or so away, but will damn near blow a geiger counter speaker at a CM away from the dials. They live in my shed well away from the house with a lead sheet over them busily mutating my spiders...

And yet the risk of giant mutant radioactive spiders worries you not a bit....:eek:

Wibbs · 02-10-2013 07:43PM

Not really, I'm thinking 8 drumsticks each should it come to that.

bodice ripper · 02-10-2013 07:44PM

Wibbs wrote: »

I'm planning ahead SDCC. I'm building a Stuka in my shed bit by bit in case the Russians or the Brits decide to invade... Have the tailwheel and a chunk of the bomb arming circuitry somewhere too. *twitches*

I knew this thread had watch-list potential.

The Backwards Man · 02-10-2013 07:48PM

goose2005 wrote: »

Big difference between the two. The Goania source was 93 g of caesium-137 emitting 51 trillion becquerels. This (http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q9776.html) estimates that a lightning rod will emit about 37 - 370 million. More importantly, Am-241 and Ra-226 only emit alpha particles and so are unlikely to be harmful unless eaten.

Thanks for breaking it down into simple layman's terms:)

Capt'n Midnight · 02-10-2013 11:09PM

Possible suspect

http://img.thesun.co.uk/aidemitlum/archive/01819/Yafet_Askale_1819890a.jpg

Jimoslimos · 02-10-2013 11:28PM

goose2005 wrote: »

Big difference between the two. The Goania source was 93 g of caesium-137 emitting 51 trillion becquerels. This (http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q9776.html) estimates that a lightning rod will emit about 37 - 370 million. More importantly, Am-241 and Ra-226 only emit alpha particles and so are unlikely to be harmful unless eaten.

Isn't Am-241 what is used in most household smoke detectors?

Cody Pomeray · 02-10-2013 11:36PM

Has this story been blown out of proportion?

Are these the same rods that still grace the buildings of Dublin, and which were previously (up until this summer) a low priority for dismantling?

Ace Attorney · 02-10-2013 11:41PM

gctest50 · 02-10-2013 11:53PM

The Russians do it better :

http://bellona.no/bellona.org/english_import_area/international/russia/navy/northern_fleet/incidents/31772

The green arrow points to the place where the "hot" capsule melted the ice and went under water.

Mech1 · 03-10-2013 12:02AM

Q1. Why where these there?

Q2. How many more are lying about the place?

srsly78 · 03-10-2013 12:16AM

Jimoslimos wrote: »

Isn't Am-241 what is used in most household smoke detectors?

Yes. That boyscout in america made a basic nuclear reactor essentially by breaking open smoke-detectors. He also got material from other everyday sources, thorium from lantern covers is another example.

03-10-2013 07:55AM

goose2005 wrote: »

Big difference between the two. The Goania source was 93 g of caesium-137 emitting 51 trillion becquerels. This (http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q9776.html) estimates that a lightning rod will emit about 37 - 370 million. More importantly, Am-241 and Ra-226 only emit alpha particles and so are unlikely to be harmful unless eaten.

I have no idea what you just said, but I'm going to agree in order to make myself look smarter.

Akrasia · 03-10-2013 08:17AM

These guys are onto a good thing here I recon

How much is a self heating hot water bottle worth to the elderly?

At that exposure they'd probably not be at risk for radiation poisoning for decades and they'll be dead before then (plus water is a radiation shield)

warning, use of self heating hot water bottle may result in a nuclear reactor melt down in your bedroom

03-10-2013 09:02AM

Cody Pomeray wrote: »

Has this story been blown out of proportion?

Are these the same rods that still grace the buildings of Dublin, and which were previously (up until this summer) a low priority for dismantling?

Probably yes. Media coverage of anything Nuclear related ranges mostly from alarmist to hysterical.

mandrake04 · 03-10-2013 10:00AM

Wibbs wrote: »

They had radioactive caesium in the source which is a right bastard as it's so easily absorbed by body tissues. The stuff nicked today may well be radioactive, which is never good, however they may not be that dangerous. People forget that up until the 1950's or so you could buy radium dialed watches* and clocks and radium is extremely active, yet few fatalities if any are reported for end users. Fatalities were reported for the women who worked at dial painting, but even there, though a terrible tragedy the doses they were absorbing were enormous. Some women used to joke around and paint their teeth and nails so they would glow in the dark. You could buy radium paint over the counter to paint lightswitches even shoelace ends and whole slippers so you could find them in the dark, I kid thee not folks.

We've become rightfully a lot more cautious about this stuff, but I'd not be neckin the iodine tablets just yet.

*FYI if you have an old watch that has a radium dial be careful. I'd not wear it in bed anyway and NEVER open the back. It doesn't matter if it doesn't glow anymore. Radium itself emits very little light, it was added phospor material that glowed, but over the years the radium burns it out ta fuq. I had a 1930's watch that nearly broke the scale of a geiger counter(and gave me a case of the trots when I saw this), so I had it professionally cleaned. I have an altimeter and compass from a WW2 Stuka Divebomber and they're so thickly painted with globs of radium you can still see an eerie glow from them. TBH even they don't register if you're a meter or so away, but will damn near blow a geiger counter speaker at a CM away from the dials. They live in my shed well away from the house with a lead sheet over them busily mutating my spiders...

I am amazed at how ignorant people were of Radiation, the use of Shoe-fitting fluoroscope was still in use up until the late '60s. This device believe it or not was used to check wether kids feet fitted into shoes by X-Raying kids feet inside shoes. Didn't have much last affect on the kids but very nasty for the shoe sales man who would be peering through the port hole several times a day.

Capt'n Midnight · 06-10-2013 10:37AM

mandrake04 wrote: »

I am amazed at how ignorant people were of Radiation, the use of Shoe-fitting fluoroscope was still in use up until the late '60s. This device believe it or not was used to check wether kids feet fitted into shoes by X-Raying kids feet inside shoes. Didn't have much last affect on the kids but very nasty for the shoe sales man who would be peering through the port hole several times a day.

They went by the unfortunate name of pedoscope.

There's one near the start of Billion Dollar Brain where Harry Palmer uses it to see what's in the flask.

Markcheese · 06-10-2013 10:44AM

srsly78 wrote: »

Yes. That boyscout in america made a basic nuclear reactor essentially by breaking open smoke-detectors. He also got material from other everyday sources, thorium from lantern covers is another example.

Why do I find that story more than vaguely worrying

mawk · 06-10-2013 10:49AM

Markcheese wrote: »

Why do I find that story more than vaguely worrying

Don't worry. It didn't end well for him..

Call me Al · 28-11-2013 11:19PM

Was there ever any update to this? Did they find the radioactive material? Anyone turn up fluorescing in a hospital recently :eek:

28-11-2013 11:30PM

Call me Al wrote: »

Was there ever any update to this? Did they find the radioactive material? Anyone turn up fluorescing in a hospital recently :eek:

I would imagine that any intelligent thief would dump that stuff as far away from their house as possible, probably in your back yard! :eek:

Radioactive material stolen in burglary.

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