Sellafield Discharges and Environmental Monitoring in Scotland

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This report was written by NENIG (link to what-is NENIG page) and commissioned by KIMO (link to www.zetnet.co.uk/coms/kimo), the international coastal local authorities environment organisation, in February 2003 and published 10th March 2003 after being adopted by KIMO UK in Edinburgh.

Introduction
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Monitoring for radioactivity in the environment in the Scotland is carried out by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Food Standards Agency. The results for the UK and Scotland are published annually in Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE), the latest being RIFE-7 which was published in 2002 and gives the results for 2001. The monitoring focuses on licensed nuclear and industrial sites and is carried out to meet obligations under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. Monitoring of milk, crops, bread, meat, diet, freshwater and air is carried out in support of obligations under the Euratom Treaty and for general food safety. Monitoring of seawater is carried out to meet obligations of the OSPAR marine pollution convention.

The main purpose of the monitoring programmes is to meet legal obligations - where the results are analysed by fellow scientists and statisticians - and this partly explains the inaccessible way the information is presented. The RIFE reports present information concerning the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands in separate chapters which makes it slightly easier to review the information.

The RIFE reports, like the monitoring itself, concentrate almost exclusively on licensed nuclear sites, with Sellafield taking up the bulk of the pages and tables. They are written and the data presented from a scientific perspective, and to extract information about results from a particular region, or for a particular radioactive element is a difficult and complex task. Virtually none of the data is presented in a graphical form - unlike monitoring results from other nations. Apart from references in the written commentary accompanying the data, there is no statistical comparison with past readings.

The analysis and this report consider the monitoring programmes for Scotland as a whole - in particular the monitoring of discharges from Sellafield that are spread throughout Scottish waters. The methods, extent and presentation of the monitoring are the focus of this report, not an analysis of individual sample results. The analysis that follows excludes the more comprehensive monitoring programmes and results, which are carried out near nuclear sites. In particular, monitoring programmes in Dumfries and Galloway and the Solway Firth carried out due to Chapelcross and Sellafield were not considered as were results around Dounreay, Torness, Hunterston and the various military sites.

Few Fish
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In 2001 the Agencies analysis of radioactivity in fish and shellfish in all Scottish waters (out with the vicinity of a nuclear site) was based on about 50 samples of fish, mussels, prawns and lobsters. Only one seabed sediment sample was taken (at Campbeltown), and just two samples of seaweed were taken (at Wick and Cape Wrath). Land samples of food were not taken from all of the 29 unitary and three island authorities. Samples of bread, meat, crops, milk and other foodstuff were only taken from sites in six areas while freshwater samples were taken from 13 local authority areas. Rain and air samples were taken from just two sites - Lerwick and Eskdalemuir - under a national monitoring scheme. Details are given in Appendix A.

Surveying Seawater
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Almost no detailed information is provided in the RIFE reports about seawater monitoring. This is carried out as part of the UK's OSPAR obligations and to help determine individual radiation exposure doses at coastal sites. A research vessel programme covers the Irish Sea, Scottish waters and the North Sea every two or three years. The results are used in specialist scientific reports. The only detailed information on seawater surveys in the RIFE reports concerns caesium-137 and tritium in the Irish Sea and Solway Firth and tritium in the Bristol Channel. The only table giving seawater results, 'Radioactivity in Seawater from the Irish Sea and Scottish Waters 2001', only covers the Solway Firth and has no samples from further afield.

A short section of the commentary discusses seawater survey results in "northern Scottish waters and the North Sea" for caesium-137, which apparently show similar concentrations as previous years, with levels decreasing according to distance from Sellafield. One paragraph deals with tritium, observing that Irish Sea levels were generally higher than the North Sea, but with no details.

Technetium (Tc99) concerns
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The RIFE report provides scant information about technetium-99, despite the national and international concerns over discharges from Sellafield. The seawater section merely notes that "concentrations...are now decreasing following the substantial increases observed since 1994." Mention is made of research cruises in 2001 to study Tc-99, but no information is provided, only references to scientific papers from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) in Lowestoft.

In 1998 SEPA carried out a "snapshot study" of Tc-99 in seaweed which involved 10 samples of the seaweed Fucus vesiculosus. The study showed a fall-off in environmental levels with distance from Sellafield. The sampling was from Stornoway; South Ronaldsay, Orkney; Laxfirth, Shetland; Trondra, Shetland; Wick; Thurso; Cape Wrath; Hunterston; Girvan; and Machrahanish.

The only sampling results for technetium-99 in RIFE-7 are the seaweed sample from Cape Wrath, four prawns in the Minch, two prawns in the northern North Sea. Although lobsters tend to concentrate more Tc-99 than crabs, the only lobster sampled, from Skye, was not tested for Tc-99.

SEPA has stated that the "the collection of further samples between Dumfries and Cape Wrath where concentrations have been identified to be lower would not provide additional data" and it has no plans to increase Tc-99 sampling points. (SEPA letter to Nuclear Free Local Authorities 06/03/02)

Aquaculture monitoring
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With increasing environmental and health concerns about food it is surprising that no sampling of farmed-fish or mussels is carried out in Scottish waters. A theoretical study was carried out in 1999 by CEFAS which showed that the feeding of fishmeal to farmed-fish might result in raised levels of several radionuclides. The limited theoretical study concluded any likely doses were well within limits.

The importance of seaweed
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Just as certain plants and mosses on land tend to concentrate certain radionuclides (i.e. Chernobyl), so does seaweed and it is recognised as a useful indicator of the state of the marine environment. Different types of seaweed are sampled extensively around nuclear sites, but out with these areas only two samples of seaweed were taken in Scotland in 2001 - from Wick and Cape Wrath. In 2000 one sample was also taken from Lewis and another from Islay. Seaweed is a good indicator of levels of Tc-99 because it does concentrate in the plant - however, only the Lewis and Cape Wrath samples were monitored for Tc-99.

SEPA and the FSA have a "continuing research study" on the use of seaweed as fertilisers in the growing of vegetables etc. and some results have been published in a scientific paper. The study concentrates on the Sellafield area and raised levels of Tc-99 have been found in both the soil and vegetables, particularly leaf beet. The RIFE report recognises that in Scottish islands seaweed may be eaten directly by sheep, or there may be harvesting for industrial alginate production. However, the report states neither activity happens to any extent around Sellafield so the issues are not considered any further. A modelling exercise was carried out in 1997 on the potential risk of animals grazing on tide-washed pasture.

International comparisons
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The work carried out in the UK by SEPA, the FSA, the Environment Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is not the only sampling carried out in Scottish waters, and the RIFE reports are not the only source of monitoring data. Sampling data from the UK is given to the European Commission and the OSPAR Commission and is published by them in different forms. Other EU or OSPAR contracting states also carry out monitoring and this information is also published.

The EU's MARINA II project collates monitoring information from all sources and publishes them in an 85Mb file, which provides the most comprehensive picture of radioactivity in the marine environment. Trying to find and extract information from it however is equally difficult.

A number of other countries regularly analyse samples from around Scotland as part of their monitoring programmes and the Norwegian and German results provide an interesting comparison with the UK approach - and provide interesting additional data.
The Norwegian Radiation Protection Agency (NRPA) published regular reports on its monitoring in the Pentland Firth, North Sea, North Atlantic and further afield. These reports make extensive use of graphics and colour to present the data, albeit still within a scientific context.

NRPA reports over the past five years give Tc-99 seawater monitoring results for north-east Scotland, Orkney, Shetland and the northern North Sea and a NRPA report last year showed samplings results for caesium-137 in seabed sediment off the Moray Firth. A new NRPA report, presently recently to OSPAR, had Tc-99 results from over 10 sites off north-east Scotland, Orkney and Shetland which showed levels higher than along the Norwegian coastline (Appendix B). A 2000 report gave extensive graphical details of surface seawater and surface sediments sampling off the north and east Scottish coast and the northern North Sea for a wide variety of radionuclides including plutonium and caesium.

The German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) also carries out extensive North Sea sampling. A recent report to OSPAR detailed caesium-137 and Tc-99 statistics for right around the UK coastline, with 20 samples for Cs-137 and Tc-99 around Scotland (excluding Dumfries and Galloway). Earlier reports, for 1997, provide even more detailed Cs-137 and Tc-99 results for the north and east coasts of Scotland.

Two things make all these overseas examples stand out : (1) They are presented in an easily understood graphical form; (2) the information is not published in the UK in the RIFE reports for the relevant years.

Conclusions
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As a result of analysis of these various monitoring regimes and, in particular, those undertaken by SEPA serious concerns at the extent of environmental monitoring in Scotland for the effects of discharges from Sellafield should be raised.

* The scale and scope of the UK monitoring programme fails to give a comprehensive picture of the effects of the Sellafield discharges. In addition, the data is presented in a matter that makes it inaccessible to the public. Simple assurances from officials or scientists that radioactivity levels are perfectly safe are no longer sufficient to satisfy public concerns. Local monitoring results need to be presented in an easily understood format throughout Scotland.
The scale and scope of the sampling programme out with the immediate Solway Firth is inadequate.

Recommendations
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* The sampling programme should be expanded to provide sufficient information to allow all communities in Scotland affected by Sellafield's discharges to be able to see and assess the extent and level of any radioactive contamination. The sampling must be sufficiently regular and widespread to provide public reassurance.
* The monitoring data should be presented in a manner that makes it understandable and accessible to the public. It should be presented so as to make it easy for local communities in each local authority area to see the results of monitoring and compare it with previous results and neighbouring communities.
* Details of all UK seawater sampling should be published annually.
* Foreign marine environment agencies carry out regular monitoring in and around Scottish waters. This data should be incorporated in the annual reports published in the UK.
* Given the widespread national and international concern over the discharges of Tc-99 from Sellafield and its increased presence in the environment, it is surprising a greater effort hasn't been made to inform the public and publish the results of a widespread monitoring programme. There should be adequate sampling for Tc-99 levels throughout Scottish waters and its coastline, including the use of data from other national monitoring programmes.
* A programme of monitoring farmed-fish and farmed-mussels and publishing the results would provide re-assurance to consumers and provide early warning to producers of any potential problems.
* The use of seaweed as a fertiliser is widespread in Scotland and sheep regularly feed on seaweed. SEPA should carry out a full study into these two practices and conduct regular sampling from the coastline of seaweed, soil and vegetable samples. The sampling must be sufficiently regular and widespread to provide public reassurance.

Appendix A
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Radioactivity in the Environment - Monitoring in Scotland
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Listed below is the total sampling carried out in Scotland by SEPA and the FSA in 2001 and published in detailed tables in the RIFE-7 Report. It excludes the monitoring carried out in the vicinity of licensed nuclear establishments - Chapelcross, Hunterston, Dounreay and Torness and military sites such as Rosyth. The list also excludes monitoring carried out in Dumfries and Galloway because Chapelcross and the proximity to Sellafield.

Radioactivity in Fish and Shellfish
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Radioactivity in Sediment
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Campbeltown 1 (No Details of sample)

Radioactivity in Aquatic Plants
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Natural Radioactivity in Fish, Shellfish and Sediment
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Radioactivity in Surface Water Leachate from Landfill Sites
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One sampling observation from: Aberdeen (1 site); Glasgow (1), Clackmannanshire (1), Dundee (1), Fife (2), Highland (1), North Lanarkshire (2), Stirling (1)

Freshwater
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Angus (10 Samples), Argyll and Bute (14), Clackmannanshire (1), East Lothian (5), Fife (1), Highland (16), North Aryshire (4), Orkney (1), Perth and Kinross (3), Borders (11), Stirling (11), West Dumbartonshire (1), West Lothian (1).

Radioactivity in General and Regional Diets
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Radioactivity in Milk
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Highland 11 Samples
Midlothian 10 Samples
Renfrewshire 12 Samples

Radioactivity in Crops (Samples of 'Leafy Green Vegetable')
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Radioactivity in Bread and Meat
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Rain and Air
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Appendix B
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Caesium-137 Sampling by Norwegian and German Authorities (Bq/m3)
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Technetium-99 Sampling by Norwegian and German Authorities (Bq/m3)
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