Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 22 Nov 1995

Vol. 458 No. 6

Written Answers. - Radioactive Substances Levels.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

80 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the levels of radioactive substances discharged by the British nuclear industry which affect the Irish environment and the health and welfare of the Irish public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17381/95]

Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (Mr. Lowry)

The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland monitors on a continuing basis the levels of radioactivity in Irish waters and reports regularly on the distribution of contaminating radionuclides as well as identifying trends and assessing the risks of public health.

The discharges from Sellafield to the Irish Sea are those which affect the Irish environment and potentially the health and welfare of the Irish public. The discharges from Sellafield for 1992 and 1993 are given in the following Tables 1 and 2. Discharges from other nuclear installations or miscellaneous sources are negligible by comparison with those from Sellafield.

The consumption of fish and shellfish is the major pathway by which radiation exposure of the Irish public occurs as a consequence of radioactive contamination of the marine environment. Contamination in seawater and sediments along the coast, even along the northeast coast, gives rise to insignificant exposures to persons frequenting beaches or swimming in the sea.

Further detailed information on the results of the monitoring programme is available directly from the Institute.

Table 1: Principal discharges of liquid radioactive waste from Sellafield, 1992.

Establishment	Radioactivity	Discharge limit (annual equivalent), TBq	Discharges during 1992 TBq (12)	Discharges during 1992 % of limit (13)
British Nuclear Fuels plc
Sellafield	Total alpha	10	1.55	16
Sea Pipelines	Total beta	500	57.2	11
	Tritium	3,500	1,200	34
	Carbon-14	4	0.804	20
	Cobalt-60	8	0.071
	Strontium-90	35	4.14	12
	Zirconium-95+
	Niobium-95	180	10.2	5.7
	Technetium-99	10	3.18	32
	Ruthenium 106	170	12.6	7.4
	Iodine-129	0.4	0.068	17
	Caesium-134	10	0.834	8.3
	Caesium-137	110	15.2	14
	Cerium-144	22	1.73	7.9
	Plutonium alpha	7	0.935	13
	Plutonium-241	170	25.3	15
	Americium-241	3	0.542	18

Table 2: Principal discharges of liquid radioactive waste from Sellafield, 1993.

Establishment	Radioactivity	Discharge limit (annual equivalent), TBq	Discharges during 1992 TBq (12)	Discharges during 1992 % of limit (13)
British Nuclear Fuels plc
Sellafield	Total alpha	10	2.59	26
Sea Pipelines	Total beta	500	97.0	9
	Tritium	3,500	2,310	66
	Carbon-14	4	2.03	51
	Cobalt-60	8	0.087	1.1
	Strontium-90	35	17.1	49
	Zirconium-95+
	Niobium-95	180	9.61	5.3
	Technetium-99	10	6.06	61
	Ruthenium 106	170	17.1	10
	Iodine-129	0.4	0.161	40
	Caesium-134	10	1.19	13
	Caesium-137	110	21.9	20
	Cerium-144	22	2.51	11
	Plutonium alpha	7	1.33	19
	Plutonium-241	170	37.5	22
	Americium-241	3	0.873	29