The following information was received via email:
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has been notified that on September 13, 2007 at approximately 2:00 PM, a moisture-density gauge containing sealed sources of radioactive material was stolen from a pick-up truck owned by Asset Management. The truck was parked at a residence in Forest Lake, Minnesota, and the gauge was believed to have been stolen sometime during the previous night.
The MDH, which regulates the use of these types of radioactive materials in Wisconsin, is working with the Forest Lake Police Department and officials of Asset Management to recover the stolen gauge.
The moisture density gauge is used to measure the moisture content and density of soils and building materials. The gauge is a yellow box measuring approximately 30 inches in length, 14 inches in width and 17 inches in height (see attached picture). The gauge and the case weigh a total of 90 pounds. The gauge itself weighs 29 lbs. The case and the gauge are clearly marked as containing radioactive materials. . .
The gauge is a Troxler Model 3430 (S/N 33277) containing two (2) sources; 9 milliCuries Cs-137 and 44 milliCuries Am-241:Be. The State of Minnesota issued a press release with contact information for the return of the gauge.
MN Report No.: MN070006.
- * * UPDATE FROM MDH (JOHNS) TO CROUCH AT 1358 EST ON 12/17/07 * * *
The Troxler moisture density gauge was recovered at 0600 CST this morning. An unknown person placed the gauge outside the Forest Lake, MN Police Department. The gauge appeared intact and no detectable leakage existed. The gauge was returned to the licensee.
Notified R3DO (Duncan), FSME (Morell), and ILTAB via email.
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
Sources that are "Less than
IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as
moisture density gauges or thickness
gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks.