Radioactive equipment lost in Abu Dhabi

A radioactive piece of industrial equipment has been lost in Abu Dhabi and could cause injuries, the UAE's nuclear regulator has said. The warning was issued after a company based in Abu Dhabi's Mussafah industrial area notified the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) of the loss, a statement published by state news agency WAM said. "The Iridium source (Ir-192) ... has been unaccounted for since the late hours of Tuesday 25 October," the company said, giving no further details about how it was lost. FANR said police are searching for the lost radioactive equipment. The equipment is covered with a lead casing, but if that were to be removed, it could cause radioactive damage to cells or burns. "The authority asks anyone who has seen any equipment ... to keep away from them, to not handle the source directly and to immediately call the nearest police station," the statement said.