UAE's FANR: lost radioactive source recovered

A radioactive piece of industrial equipment which was been lost in Abu Dhabi last month has been recovereds, the UAE's nuclear regulator has said. The radioactive source, which went missing in Abu Dhabi's Musaffah industrial area on October 25, was spotted by a member of the public who notified the police. Officials from the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) said in a report published by state news agency WAM that the device had not been damaged or tampered with. They also found no traces of radioactive contamination following measurements with specific equipment, WAM added. The device contained an Iridium (Ir-192) source used for industrial radiography, to take special pictures in order to check the welding on metal components. "This case thankfully had a happy end, without anyone being hurt," said Dr John Loy, director of FANR Radiation Safety Department. "But it showed vulnerabilities on the part of our licensees in securing radioactive sources, and we will look into that. "It also showed how closely local and federal authorities must work together." FANR warned at the time of the radioactive source going missing that it could cause injuries if handled incorrectly.