CNN
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A radiographic digicam containing radioactive materials has gone lacking in Houston, Texas, officers mentioned Saturday.
The 53-pound digicam – which is usually used within the building business – went lacking on March 9 and was final seen on Little York Highway in Houston, the Texas Division of State Well being Companies mentioned in a information launch.
Statewide Upkeep Firm, the corporate that owns the digicam, is actively looking for it and has supplied a reward for its return, officers mentioned.
The system’s radioactive materials is sealed in a number of layers of safety and the danger of publicity is “very low,” Texas officers mentioned. The radioactive materials is sealed inside a capsule, which is in flip sealed contained in the digicam with protecting shielding and different security options.
“Ranges of radiation exterior the digicam, itself, usually are not harmful,” the discharge mentioned.
Industrial radiography cameras might use a really excessive exercise gamma radiation supply and are generally used to examine the integrity of ships, pipes and different small areas, based on the Nationwide Nuclear Safety Administration.
Anybody who finds the digicam – which has radiation markings on it – mustn’t open it and as an alternative name 9-1-1 or the DSHS 24-hour telephone line to report its location, Texas officers mentioned.