Radioactive rodent on the loose
The hunt is on for a radioactive mouse in the US state of Washington Picture: Greg Adams
TWO weeks after authorities captured a radioactive rabbit in southeast Washington state, the hunt is on for a radioactive mouse.
Radioactive mouse droppings were discovered on the grounds of Hanford, a decommissioned nuclear production complex, the Tri-City Herald reported today.
Hanford workers have set about 60 mouse traps, but the two mice that have been caught were not contaminated.
Workers trapped a radioactive rabbit on November 4 after launching a search when radioactive droppings were discovered.
The mouse and rabbit droppings were found in the same area, leading Washington Closure Hanford - the Department of Energy contractor that is cleaning up an area of Hanford - to believe that the animals ate or drank a common source of radioactive cesium contamination, the Tri-City Herald reported.
The Washington State Department of Health said it does not believe there is any danger to the public.
All of the droppings were found near a building where demolition began approximately six weeks ago. Hanford reactors produced plutonium for the US nuclear weapons program from 1944 to 1987. Workers are now involved in a massive project to clean up the billions of gallons of liquid waste and millions of tons of solid waste created by the transformation of raw uranium into plutonium for bombs, according to Hanford’s website.
Washington Closure has fenced off the area around the building where demolition is taking place and has scented the perimeter with fox urine to help prevent animals from entering the area, according to the Herald.
Read more at www.couriermail.com.au
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