National

Radioactive isotopes found in house near Sydney Airport

By AAP Newswire

Aug 17, 2023

Australian Border Force officers at a home in Sydney. — Low-level radioactive isotopes were removed from a home in an Australian Border Force operation. -AAP Image

Radioactive isotopes have been found at a property in Sydney's south, leading to streets being locked down and residents evacuated.

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The Australian Border Force were undertaking an operation at Arncliffe, near Sydney Airport, on Thursday when the low-level radioactive isotopes were located.

Specialist crews established a 10-metre exclusion zone around the property as firefighters in protective clothing used special detectors to inspect the site.

The isotopes, stored in suitable and effective containers, were further sealed without incident.

Teams from the Environment Protection Authority and Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation were called to the address to assist.

EPA testing confirmed there was no evidence of radiation exposure.

Residents and border force staff were also tested for radiation but they all returned regular readings.

Three people from the property were still taken to hospital for observation, while neighbouring residents were able to their homes after Fire and Rescue NSW declared the scene safe.

Radioactive isotopes are commonly used in medicine and other industries.