Researchers at Idaho State University said they鈥檝e lost a small amount of weapons-grade plutonium. Federal officials aren鈥檛 pleased.
It was one gram and not enough to make a nuclear weapon, according to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Idaho State University researchers probably disposed of it in 2003, but forgot to complete a form.
鈥淲e think it was shipped inadvertently to a licensed nuclear disposal facility and is probably not out in the public sector where it would pose a threat to members of the public,鈥� said Victor Dricks, a spokesperson for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
He said it鈥檚 a minute amount of material and incidents like this don鈥檛 happen very often.
Plutonium is highly regulated at universities. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has fining Idaho State more than $8,000.
University scientists were researching ways to ensure radioactive waste containers didn鈥檛 leak and to detect radioactive material that might be illegally smuggled into the United States.
In a statement, a university spokesperson said Idaho State has upgraded their inventory system and says the 鈥渞adioactive source in question poses no direct health issue or risk to public safety.鈥�
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