> “easiest explanation” is that a medical or industrial device containing cesium-137 was inadvertently reprocessed as scrap metal. The radioactive material could have become gaseous after entering the PMT furnace and then been released from the facility’s smokestack
ggm•2h ago
Half life tracking presumably would give a "birthday" for the cesium-137 source. Given they suspect scrap contamination in a recycling smelter, its at best informing to root cause. That, and the length of the tail yet to come as it passes down the ladder.
addaon•1h ago
“Half life tracking” isn’t really a thing — decay is a memory-less process (by definition), so there’s no distinction in decay rate between a lot of old Cesium 137, and a bit of young Cesium 137. The way to put an age on the contamination is by looking at the ratio of Cesium 137 and Barium 137, which presumedly someone has done…
ggm•42m ago
Thank you for clarifying. My intent was where you get to, badly understood and expressed.
burnt-resistor•24m ago
Protectionist regimes and opaque supply chains that aim to maximize profits above all else aren't motivated to provide honest answers, only a least-damaging public relations narrative.
zarzavat•4h ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prachin_Buri_radiation_inciden...
https://qz.com/thailand-radioactive-cylinder-found-foundry-1...