Spain, radioactive shipment disappears at Madrid airport

The Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) issued an alert on Monday following the disappearance of a shipment from the cargo terminal at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport. The package, which was subsequently traced, contained four radioactive sources of selenium (se-75). Selenium-75 is a radioactive isotope primarily used in industrial radiography. In accordance with the Nuclear Safety Council’s classification system, the radioactive sources were designated as Category 2 on a scale of 1 to 5, as defined by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Category 5 is the least hazardous category. Category 2 sources are regarded as posing a significant radiation hazard, which can result in serious health complications if individuals are exposed. As reported by the media, the selenium remained in its protective casings until it was recovered. Short-term exposure to high concentrations of selenium has been linked to a range of health issues including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Prolonged exposure may result in selenosis, a condition that primarily manifests as hair loss, brittle nails and neurological issues such as numbness and other unusual sensations in the extremities. In addition, short-term exposure to elevated levels of elemental selenium or selenium dioxide in the atmosphere has been linked to respiratory irritation, bronchitis, shortness of breath and stomach pain.