On 22 November 2012, a type A package containing Cs-137 (54 GBq) triggered a radiation alarm at the Frankfurt airport, Germany. The package originated in Brisbane, Australia and was shipped on a passenger airplane via Dubai. The package examination found that one of the Cs-137 sources (18.5 GBq) transported in the package was found outside its shielded container but within the overpack and another source was lodged between the lid and body of the shielded container. The maximum dose rate on surface of the overpack was measured to be 33 mSv/hr and 0.94 mSv/hr at distance of 1m.
To estimate the potential dose to passengers on the flight from Brisbane to Frankfurt, conservative cargo hall and passenger deck configurations were considered. The result indicated that more than 10 people, both on board of the airplanes and the package handlers at respective airports, could have received effective whole body doses between approximately 3 and 6.6 mSv. These estimates are above the statutory annual dose limits for members of the public (1 mSv).
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Last year, the Dutch Province of Limburg started an alliance in which, besides the local government, research institutes, small nuclear reactor (SMR) developers, utilities, industrial customers and funders cooperated. With this "Limburg SMR alliance" Limburg tried to lead the way towards an SMR in Limburg. The preferred site for a first SMR would be Chemelot, […]
