Mr. B. Harrisonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the maximum levels of radioactivity in marine life above which it would be unsafe for human consumption; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SoamesMaximum permissible levels for continuous daily exposure of human beings, as currently prescribed by the Medical Research Council in the light of recommendations by the International Commission on Radiological Protection, have been published in the Report of the Council entitled "The Hazards to Man of Nuclear and Allied Radiations" (Cmnd. 1225, of December, 1960).
Maximum permissible levels of radioactivity have been calculated within the general framework of the above levels for various types of marine life used as food originating from the sites of radioactive discharges. It is not possible to state maximum levels which would be generally applicable, since they will necessarily vary with the extent to which the marine life from a particular site is consumed by human beings.