I understand that radiation isn't magic and things don't become permanently tainted by mere exposure.
Still, this girl ingested cesium and died as a result.
I would be highly uncomfortable with with an unknown quantify of a beta+gamma emitter with a 30 year half life being buried anywhere near where I get my family's drinking water.
You also have to take into account the fact that (and I'm trying to be charitable here) the principles involved's first reaction to a glow being emitted from inside a difficult to open metal cylinder was "Let's see if we can open this so we can make glowing jewelry!"
People are scared of nuclear technology in no small part because they simply don't understand it.
I understand that radiation isn't magic and things don't become permanently tainted by mere exposure.
Still, this girl ingested cesium and died as a result.
I would be highly uncomfortable with with an unknown quantify of a beta+gamma emitter with a 30 year half life being buried anywhere near where I get my family's drinking water.