Hunt for lost radioactive rod in Texas 17 (UPI) -- The search is on for a 7-inch radioactive rod lost somewhere in west Texas, and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission warned against handling it if found. The metal tube, containing americium-241/beryllium and stamped with the label "Danger Radioactive: Do not handle. Notify civil authorities is found," was lost by the Halliburton Co. employees Tuesday on a 130-mile truck ride across the Texas desert between oil well sites in Pecos and Odessa, the British newspaper The Guardian reported. The commission said the material in the rod is a "Category 3" source of radiation, and would typically have to be held for several hours before causing health problems. An NRC spokeswoman said there has "never been one lost in the public domain" prior to the rod lost last week, adding there is some concern the material could fall into the hands of terrorists. The route taken by the truck has been painstakingly searched with radioactivity detection equipment, with assistance from local police and the Texas National Guard, the newspaper said, and Halliburton carried out a forensic search of the truck itself. The three-man truck crew, who had been using the radioactive material to identify gas and oil deposits, were questioned by the FBI, the newspaper said.