The following information was provided by the
Texas Department of State Health Services (the Department) via email:
On June 25, 2025, the licensee notified the Department of the theft of a moisture density gauge. The gauge, a Troxler 3430, contains an 8 millicurie (mCi) cesium-137 sealed source and a 40 mCi americium-241/beryllium sealed source. The theft occurred in Fort Bend County on June 24, 2025. The radiation safety officer (RSO) stated that a technician, after completing his work at a job site, placed the gauge in the back of his pickup truck. The technician placed the gauge in its transport container which was then secured with double locks. The RSO stated that the technician left the job site and drove to a gas station. It was at the gas station that he noticed that the gauge was missing. The locks securing the gauge transport container had been broken, and the container, including the gauge, stolen. The technician reported the theft to the RSO and the Harris County Sheriff's department. The licensee stated that the source rod was in the secured and locked position at the time of the incident. The licensee also stated that no unintended exposure to the public exceeding dose limits is expected due to this incident.
Additional information will be provided in accordance with SA 300 reporting requirements.
Texas incident report number: 10205
Texas NMED number: TX250030
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. For additional information go to
http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf