Imagine global upheavals happening, such as a third world war, or a global plague, or a comet impact that resembles an apocalypse. Events that result in a loss

Imagine global upheavals happening, such as a third world war, or a global plague, or a comet impact that resembles an apocalypse. Events that result in a loss of all or part of public control over these wastes. What happens, then, if at some point in the centuries after, someone opens such a barrel containing the waste? A Goiânia [1], but no one will be there to clean up. Unsuspecting people will spread the radiation across the world. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goi%C3%A2nia_accident https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goi%C3%A2nia_accident