asked the Minister for Energy if he will make a statement on radioactivity levels in the Irish environment including the levels in the waters around Ireland with particular reference to the dumping of radioactive waste, including the mechanisms for, and standard of, monitoring in this respect.
Written Answers. - Radioactivity Levels.
46.
The Nuclear Energy Board carry out an environmental monitoring programme which is designed to determine the levels of radiation in the Irish environment so that the potential exposure to members of the public can be assessed.
The boards' monitoring programme includes air sampling at two Meteorological Stations at Valentia and Dublin and at the board's laboratory at Clonskeagh. Sampling of rainwater is undertaken at six meteorological stations — at Belmullet, Valentia, Roche's Point, Rosslare, Mullingar and Dublin.
The average annual dose from naturally occurring radiation is about 2,000 microsieverts. Radioactivity levels in the air have now returned to the levels that existed prior to the Chernobyl accident.
The most significant source of radioactive contamination of the Irish marine environment is the discharge of radioactive effluent from Sellafield to the Irish Sea. The board collect samples of sea water, sediment, seaweed, fish and shellfish routinely from selected locations around the Irish coastline and these are analysed at the board's laboratory.
The estimated radiation dose resulting from the consumption of fish and shellfish from the Irish Sea to the average consumer of fish in 1987 was about two microsieverts compared with the maximum annual dose limit of 1,000 microsieverts recommended by the International Commission for Radiological Protection (ICRP). Those consuming large amounts of fish and shellfish would have received doses of about 11 microsieverts. While the results show that levels of contamination are not significant from the point of view of health to the Irish public, it is, of course, the Government's view that any level of discharges from Sellafield is unacceptable.
As I indicated in replies to questions on 3 March and 28 April, a national survey on the levels of naturally occurring radon in Irish homes is being carried out and the results to date show that most homes in Ireland do not have significant radon levels. It would be premature to comment on the extent of any problem in this area until the survey has been completed.
As regard dumping of radioactive waste in the marine environment, no such dumping has taken place since 1982. The dumping which took place prior to that took place about 790 km off our south west coast. No increased levels of radiation have been detected in Irish waters on foot of that dumping. I will continue to work within the context of such bodies as the London Dumping Convention to ensure that dumping of radioactive waste at sea is not recommended.