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Podcasts Take Two
Six people people admitted with possible radiation exposure now suspects in cobalt-60 theft
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Dec 9, 2013
Listen • 4:09
Six people people admitted with possible radiation exposure now suspects in cobalt-60 theft
Mexican officials say they are suspects in the theft of radioactive material - called cobalt-60 - stolen on December 2.
General view on Dec. 4, 2013 of the place in Tepojaco, Hidalgo state where the Volkswagen Worker truck transporting a 'teletherapy source' containing cobalt-60 was stolen by gunmen on Dec. 2. Mexican authorities scrambled Wednesday to find a truck containing 'extremely dangerous' radioactive material used in medical treatment. Mexico's National Commission for Nuclear Safety and Safeguards (CNSNS), which reported the theft to the IAEA, said the material posed no risk provided it was not broken or tampered with.
General view on Dec. 4, 2013 of the place in Tepojaco, Hidalgo state where the Volkswagen Worker truck transporting a 'teletherapy source' containing cobalt-60 was stolen by gunmen on Dec. 2. Mexican authorities scrambled Wednesday to find a truck containing 'extremely dangerous' radioactive material used in medical treatment. Mexico's National Commission for Nuclear Safety and Safeguards (CNSNS), which reported the theft to the IAEA, said the material posed no risk provided it was not broken or tampered with.
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Yuri Cortez/AFP/Getty Images
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Mexican officials say they are suspects in the theft of radioactive material - called cobalt-60 - stolen on December 2.

Six people have been admitted to a hospital in central Mexico with potential radiation exposure. 

Mexican officials say they are suspects in the theft of radioactive material - called cobalt-60 - stolen on December 2. 

Jill Replogle from our Fronteras Desk looks at some of the questions popping up about security when this kind of radioactive waste is transported.