N-Base Briefing 172

N-Base Briefing 172 - 20th March 1999

print this page

Scottish cancers increase

There has been a big increase in thyroid cancer in women in Scotland since the Chernobyl accident in 1986. Official figures from the Cancer Registration Statistics Office show an increase of over 45 per cent - there were 250 more cases of thyroid cancer in women than would have been predicted. In total there have been 828 women and 292 men in Scotland who've developed thyroid cancer since 1982. The report states that the increase among women is statistically significant. It is suggested inhaling radioactive iodine from Chernobyl pollution could be the cause, or contaminated milk is another possibility.

EU checks at Dounreay

A team of four Euratom inspectors arrived at Dounreay on Tuesday for a three-day check of the Caithness plant. The inspectors will be examining the monitoring and regulation of the site by UK regulators such as the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. The visit follows action by Mr Alex Smith, Labour MEP for the South of Scotland, who questioned the effectiveness of Euratom's site visit in 1993 which found no particular cause for concern. However, UK regulators carried out a safety audit last year on Dounreay which found a long-list of serious problems and Mr Smith said this must undermine the credibility of the 1993 report. Scotland Against Nuclear Dumping also called the 1993 visit either 'incompetent or a whitewash' and questioned the usefulness of this new inspection.

Sellafield compensation

A worker involved in a toxic chemical spillage at Sellafield has been awarded over GBP100,000 in compensation. Mr Mark Norris was overcome by poisonous gases when spilt chemicals reacted and were inhaled by Mr Norris who was not wearing special breathing equipment. The award was agreed in an out-of-court settlement with British Nuclear Fuels shortly before a court case was due.

Radiation illness

A man in Peru is reported to be seriously ill after carrying an industrial radioactive source which he found for an estimated eight hours. The International Atomic Energy Agency reported the man had received 50gray of radiation from the iridium-192 source.

New mobile phone warnings

The European Parliament has recommended health warnings for mobile phones and measures to protect the public from high-voltage mains power cables and mobile phone masts. The parliament made the recommendations in amendments to European Commission proposals on electromagnetic fields and their possible harmful health effects. MEPs recommended there should be minimum safety distances between houses and other buildings and power lines, radar stations and mobile phone masts. The measures are purely recommendations and are not binding on EU member states.

Swan through canal

The Pacific Swan and her cargo of vitrified high-level waste en route from France to Japan reportedly passed though the Panama Canal last weekend.