Thailand says radiation threat contained while fate of missing cylinder unknown

Government authorities continue to insist at the highest levels that there is no threat of radioactive contamination in Prachinburi province or other areas caused by a missing device packed with a dangerous isotope that went missing.

But while Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha and the Thai nuclear agency have stressed that no additional Cesium-137 has been found outside the steel smelting plant where it was discovered Sunday, it remains unknown whether it even came from the industrial cylinder that went missing late last month.

The Pollution Control Department and Atoms for Peace Office said they checked around the plant on order of the Prime Minister’s Office and found no radiation or additional contamination. 

That hasn’t dismissed fear that has taken hold.

Fear that radioactive dust could blow long distances to contaminate ecosystems and poison people who inhale it…