The following report was received from the State of
California via email:
[The licensee] states that the nuclear density gauge was inside a box in company van parked in the public street on the side of the building. It was discovered missing once they needed to use it for a job. [The State] was notified that the item had been missing for approximately 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br />.
Nuclear Gauge information:
Unit: CPN-Campbell Pacific Nuclear MC3 ; Serial # M37107962.
Additional information: Substance Type: Cesium -137, Amount: 10 mCi; Americium -241, Amount: 50 mCi.
The State of California, Department of Public Health Radiologic Health Branch received notification from the California's Governor's Office of Emergency Services. The licensee has contacted local law enforcement and a search for the gauge is still ongoing. Additional information will be provided when available.
California Report No. 012916
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