This article has been updated to provide photos of the object and the person who found it.

BROADKILL BEACH, Del. — A small object engraved with the word “radioactive” prompted a response from multiple agencies Monday evening after a beachgoer found it washed ashore at Broadkill Beach.

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Emergency Response and Environmental Crimes Unit responded to the beach after the object was reported.

Elizabeth Rach and her 10-year-old daughter Everleigh are visiting from Coatesville, Pennsylvania for a week-long vacation. They said they found the object while walking on the beach, looking for seashells. Rach recalls her daughter picked up the object and they decided to bring it back to their house to keep. That was when Rach said they cleaned the item off with soap and water, revealing the engraved text "RADIOACTIVE POISON INSIDE DISPOSE OF BY BURIAL US RADIUM CORP".

A small round rusty object held up by a person's fingers.

 That was when Rach said they cleaned the item off with soap and water, revealing the engraved text "RADIOACTIVE POISON INSIDE DISPOSE OF BY BURIAL US RADIUM CORP". (Elizabeth Rach)

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DNREC said trace-level radiation was detected from the object. The agency's Emergency Response team secured it for hazardous material disposal after consulting with the Delaware Division of Public Health.

The Milton Fire Department, Sussex County 911, U.S. Coast Guard and Delaware State Fire School also responded as part of the state's emergency response plan. Sussex County 911 established a command post.

DNREC did not provide additional information about what the object was or where it may have originated.

All responding units had cleared the scene by 7 p.m. on Aug. 10.

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Morning Broadcast Journalist

Matt co-anchors CoastTV News Today Monday through Friday from 5-7 a.m. and occasionally produces and anchors CoastTV News Midday at 11 a.m. He was previously the sports director at WBOC from 2015-2019.

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