Argentina's nuclear regulator issued a national emergency alert after a radioactive capsule was stolen from a medical center in Rosario [1], [3].
The disappearance of the material poses a significant public health risk if the capsule is opened or handled improperly by unauthorized individuals. Because the substance is radioactive, the government has activated emergency protocols to locate the device and prevent accidental exposure [1], [6].
The stolen item is a radioactive capsule containing cesium-137 [3]. According to reports, the material served as a calibration source for nuclear medicine equipment [2].
The theft occurred Tuesday afternoon at a medical institute in the province of Santa Fe [4], [6]. While some reports identify the location generally as a medical center in Rosario [1], other accounts specify the material disappeared from an institute located at 1,500 [6].
The Autoridad Regulatoria Nuclear (ARN) is leading the response to the incident [1]. The agency activated a national-level emergency protocol to coordinate the search for the missing source [1]. This high-level alert is designed to ensure that security forces and health officials across the country can identify and secure the material quickly [1], [5].
Authorities are urging the public to report any suspicious objects or sightings of the capsule. The ARN said the priority is the recovery of the source to mitigate risks to the population [1], [6].
“Argentina's nuclear regulator issued a national emergency alert”
The activation of a national emergency protocol indicates that the ARN views the loss of the cesium-137 source as a high-priority security breach. Cesium-137 is a potent gamma-emitter; while safe inside its calibration housing, the material can cause severe radiation burns or systemic poisoning if the capsule is breached, making its recovery a critical public safety necessity.
