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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Chinese 'find' radioactive ball | Chinese 'find' radioactive ball |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Chinese officials say that potentially deadly radioactive material lost in north-western Shaanxi province may have been found at a steel mill. | Chinese officials say that potentially deadly radioactive material lost in north-western Shaanxi province may have been found at a steel mill. |
| Officials told the BBC that they had detected what may be the missing Caesium-137, adding that it may have been melted down. | Officials told the BBC that they had detected what may be the missing Caesium-137, adding that it may have been melted down. |
| The Caesium-137, encased in lead, was lost this week when workers at a cement plant demolished an old factory. | The Caesium-137, encased in lead, was lost this week when workers at a cement plant demolished an old factory. |
| The material was part of a measuring instrument and is extremely dangerous. | |
| Caesium-137 is a radioactive isotope, formed mainly through nuclear fission. The smallest amount can cause infertility, cancer and even death. | Caesium-137 is a radioactive isotope, formed mainly through nuclear fission. The smallest amount can cause infertility, cancer and even death. |
| Eight trucks worth of scrap gathered at the disused factory in Tongchuan city were sold to a local steel mill, according to official news agency Xinhua. | Eight trucks worth of scrap gathered at the disused factory in Tongchuan city were sold to a local steel mill, according to official news agency Xinhua. |
| Local environmental officials told the BBC they were mounting a clean-up operation at the mill in Fuping county. | Local environmental officials told the BBC they were mounting a clean-up operation at the mill in Fuping county. |
| The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Beijing says China has an appalling record on industrial safety - there are around 30 cases of radioactive material being lost every year. | The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Beijing says China has an appalling record on industrial safety - there are around 30 cases of radioactive material being lost every year. |
| Last July, a farmer in Shaanxi province was arrested after he stole a similar radioactive container and attempted to sell it for scrap. | Last July, a farmer in Shaanxi province was arrested after he stole a similar radioactive container and attempted to sell it for scrap. |