The latest comprehensive report from the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) - Radioactivity Monitoring of the Irish Environment 2003-2005 - provides a detailed information update on radiation levels in the Irish sea as a consequence (in part) of the operation of the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant.
The study has been eagerly awaited by the Celtic League as we were anxious to ascertain if levels of technetium 99, which had been reducing steadily over the last decade but which surprisingly showed an increase in the early part of this decade, would resume a downturn. Thankfully this is the case.
The report also comments on the impact of the remobilisation of sediment which seems to have slowed any decline in Caesium 137. This phenomena was first flagged up to the League by the United Kingdom Food Standards Agency in April 2006 (See Celtic News No 1972 - TECHNETIUM DECLINE - DON'T ACCEPT THE LEAGUES VIEW THIS IS WHAT BRITAIN'S FOOD STANDARDS AGENCY HAD TO SAY!).
It certainly seems to confirm that the long term impact of deposits from Sellafield can be exacerbated by sea-bed or tidal disturbance which should be a factor taken into consideration when any sea-bed activities are contemplated, particularly in the N. Irish sea area.
The RPII report is rich in detail and, given the scepticism with which some material from the British side of the Irish sea can be sometimes viewed, is also incontrovertibly independent.
In pdf form at:
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
16/06/07
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