Radioactive Pendant Found on Passenger at China Airport
A passenger at Zhoushuizi International Airport in Dalian was found carrying a highly radioactive pendant that triggered alarms during routine customs screening, according to Dalian Customs.
The pendant, described by the traveler as a “talisman” from a friend, registered 168.6 microsieverts (µSv) per hour – 1,686 times above normal background radiation levels.
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s limit for public exposure to ionizing radiation is 1 millisievert (mSv) per year, apart from what a person normally receives from natural background radiation.
Further analysis identified the radioactive substance as thorium-232, a material classified by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer as a Group 1 carcinogen for its ability to cause cancer in humans.
Dalian Customs seized the item and reminded travelers to verify the composition of international purchases to avoid health risks and financial loss. Radioactive items exceeding safety standards will be confiscated and handed over to specialized agencies or returned to their place of origin.
According to The Straits Times
Photo: The Straits Times