10/04/2006
- A report published on the 5th of April shows
no evidence of significant transfer of radioactivity
from the Irish Sea onto coastal land in north
Wales.
The report, "Sea to Land
Transfer of Anthropogenic Radionuclides to the
North Wales Coast", is the result of a study
undertaken by Westlakes Scientific Consulting
and funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.
The independent report, published
by the Health Minister Dr Brian Gibbons and Minister
for Environment, Planning and Countryside Carwyn
Jones, found that almost all sample results from
coastal land were consistently low, and all were
of low radiological significance.
Dr Brian Gibbons welcomed the
findings and said: "I hope the report will
go someway to allay any health concerns of the
local population. The report puts in context suggestions
that have been made that emissions of radioactivity
could increase the risk of cancer in the area."
The Assembly commissioned report
concluded that there was no evidence of significant
transfer of radioactivity onto coastal land in
North Wales. The concentrations of radionuclides
in air are lower than the limit of detection in
most cases.
Carwyn Jones said: "I am
reassured by the conclusions of the report and
hope that any concerns harboured by residents
or visitors to the popular north Wales coastline
will be allayed."
The report findings have been
continued by monitoring studies undertaken by
the Environment Agency and the Food Standards
Agency on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government.
As an independent check on one sediment site with
a higher than expected analyses of technetium-99,
the Environment Agency monitored sediments and
seaweed samples in the Menai Strait. The Environment
Agency’s findings show slightly lower levels of
the radionuclide than previously found by the
Welsh Assembly Government consultants. Estimated
doses from the levels of the radionuclide observed
are low and are consistent with the dose estimate
by Westlakes Scientific Consulting. The doses
do not pose any significant threat to health or
the environment.
HPA has reviewed the results
for technetium-99 in marine sediment, specifically
the unusually high value at one particular location,
and concluded that, from the radiological protection
point of view, it would be difficult to justify
further work and that the Technetium-99 findings
were insignificant in both radiological and health
protection terms.
Notes:
The dose rates for radionuclides
from the transfer of anthropogenic radionuclides
onto coastal land in north Wales from the Irish
Sea are less than 0.1% of the annual UK statutory
dose limit of 1000 micro-sieverts per year.
The average annual background
dose to members of the public from natural radiation
in the UK is approximately 2200 micro-sieverts
per year.
The report of Westlakes Scientific
Consulting to the Welsh Assembly Government is
available on the Assembly Government website at:
http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/epq/Chemicalsradioactivity/radioactivity/?lang=en
The Environment Agency’s report
entitled "The determination of Technetium-99
in seaweed and sediment samples collected from
the Menai Strait " is available from the
Agency’s Website at:
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/444304/945835/1085229/?version=1&lang=_e
