andMr. Keating asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the location and the method used by the Meteorological Office to measure radioactivity in water and air and if this material is published.
Written Answers. - Measurement of Radioactivity.
149.
The Meteorological Service of my Department maintain a programme of measuring radioactivity in water (rainfall) and air at a number of locations throughout the country. Radioactivity in rainfall and air is measured daily in Dublin city (O'Connell Street) and at Cahirciveen. In addition, measurements of radioactivity of accumulated rainfall over each month are made for sites at Dublin Airport, Belmullet, Rosslare, Roche's Point and Mullingar as well as at Cahirciveen and Dublin city (O'Connell Street). Measurements of radioactivity in samples of tapwater are made once a week at Dublin city and Cahirciveen.
In all cases, the beta-activity of the samples is measured, using lead-shielded geiger-muller tubes. In addition, for the Dublin city site, Strontium-ninety (Sr90) activity in the cumulative monthly samples of rainfall is determined. The reports of the measurements are distributed quarterly to about 70 interested institutes in Ireland and abroad.