Abstract:

On July 20, 2009, the Almaty -Moscow train was detained at the Iletsk-1 railroad crossing point at the Kazakh-Russian border when radiation was detected in railcar number 20 [1,2]. Reportedly, the radiation was measured as 100 times the natural background level, although another article reported it was 1,000 times the natural level.[1,2] According to media reports, further investigation by the Radioactive Waste Management Enterprise (RosRAO) led to the discovery of a rubber glove hidden in the railcar. Inside the glove was a cylinder, 8 millimeters in diameter and 10 millimeters long, containing what was described as “probably” Cesium-137.[2] Reports do not specify what kind of device the cylinder was.

RosRAO representatives placed the radioactive source in a special container and transferred it to a specialized plant for disposal.[2] It was reported that officials did not yet know how the cylinder found its way into the railcar, but an investigation was launched under Article 188 of the Russian Criminal Code (smuggling). Fifty-three passengers were evacuated from the railcar and those that were examined by doctors were found to be in satisfactory condition.[1,2] {Entered AE}

[1] "Kazakhstanskaya radiatsiya v Rossiyu ne proshla" ["Kazakhstani radiation did not reach Russia"], Izvestiya, 30 July 2009, in Integrum Techno database, www.integrum.ru.

[2] "Istochnik radiatsii obezvrezhen" ["Radioactive source neutralized"], Yuzhnyy Ural, 5 August 2009, in Integrum Techno database, www.integrum.ru.

Abstract Number:  20090260
Headline:  Railcar Emitting Radiation Detained at the Kazakh-Russian Border
Date:  20 July 2009
Bibliography:  "Nikakoy mistiki, tolko kontrabanda" ["No Mystery, Just Sumggling"], Orenburgskaya nedelya, 5 August 2009, www.integrum.ru, in Integrum Techno database, www.integrum.ru.   
Material:  Cesium-137