CBRN event in Armenia on Mon 29th December 2003

On 29th December 2003 on the customs check-point of Meghri town (on the boarder of Armenia) in the scrap metal shipment which was to be exported from Armenia there was detected a radioactive source. On the source covering the identification mark “C 58191” is weakly viewed. The metallic container of the source was damaged and the major part of the contained material is absent. The dose rate of the source in 5sm distance was 160 mcSv/hour (microSieverts per hour); on the damaged side the beta sensor registered more than 7200 particles/sm2. The detected source was transported to the radioactive waste storage facility (RADON). There were no adverse health effects on the personnel who found and transported the source.The investigation is conducted in order to find the owner of the source and detect the circumstances at which the source was fallen into the scrap metal shipment.