Soviet Nuclear Accident (Hansard, 8 May 1986)

§ Mr. Rifkind

In addition to the continuous regular monitoring which is carried out by the National Radiological Protection Board, the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, the nuclear site operators and the regulatory bodies, additional monitoring has been taking place in Scotland of milk samples from the following locations, ranging from the south of Scotland to Shetland. Monitoring began on 3 May and is now taking place at:

Aberdeen
Campbeltown
Castle Douglas
Cumnock
Dalbeattie
Dumfries (two locations)
Edinburgh
Fenwick
Glasgow
Grantown-on-Spey
Mauchline
Nairn
Orkney
Shetland
Stornoway
Stranraer

Monitoring of the deposition of radioactive materials on grass, to estimate possible uptake by cattle, is being carried out in the south-west of Scotland, in four districts in the Dumfries and Galloway region and at Chapelcross. Samples are also being taken at Nairn and at Dounreay.

Analysis of water sampled over the weekend from reservoirs near Dumfries, in the Highland region and at Milngavie, indicated extremely low levels of iodine-131, within the range of 2–9 becquerels per litre. These are less than 1 per cent. of the level of 2,400 becquerels per litre at which action needs to be considered. At the request of the Scottish Office, all water authorities have sent further samples for analysis from a variety of sources used for public water supplies—reservoirs, lochs and rivers. The results from the first 15 of these again all show radioactivity levels well below 1 per cent. of the trigger levels. All but two are less than 4 becquerels per litre, with the other two less than 15. This confirms the advice previously given that water from such sources is safe to drink.

Air sampling is being carried out at the nuclear establishments at Dounreay, Chapelcross, Torness, and Hunterston, and also at Rosyth, Peterhead power station and Lerwick.

Scottish office officials have also been in regular touch with officials of the National Radiological Protection Board and MAFF and other Departments have had access to the results of all monitoring carried ou by the board in England and Scotland.

Samples are being taken of vegetables grown in Scotland to ascertain radioactivity levels. My hon. Friend the Minister with responsibility for local government and the environment issued a statement on Friday, 2 May in which he drew attention to the monitoring of milk. He advised the public that milk supplies were safe to drink, but that information would be given if any abnormal radiation levels were detected: on Monday 5 May a further statement was issued by the Minister that, while radiation levels had risen during the weekend, the advice given on safety of milk remained valid.

Further statements reinforcing and amplifying this advice were given on 6 and 7 May. My hon. Friend also emphasised, in his statement of 5 May that water supplies from mains, springs, wells and streams had been affected to an insignificant extent.

The latest monitoring results available indicate that radioactivity levels of Iodine 131 in milk from samples analysed on 6 May ranged from 1 becquerel per litre in Shetland to 225 becquerel per litres in the Dalbeattie area. First results for samples analysed on 7 May ranged from 3 becquerel-litre in Shetland to 120 becquerel-litre in the Stranraer area.

Iodine 131 in analysis of rainwater samples indicate a strong downward trend in radioactivity levels in precipitation, which will be reflected in levels in public supplies in due course. The trend in concentration of Iodine 131 in air and grass samples has also shown a strong downward trend over the last few days.

Port environmental health officers have been advised that any consignments of fresh products (including 215W vegetables, fruit, fish from Russian or Polish coastal waters and dairy products) exported from Russia or Poland on or after 26 April should be held for testing.

The Scottish Office arranged comprehensive briefings for the press on Tuesday 6 May and Wednesday 7 May, and has established a public information line at St. Andrew's House. The number of telephone inquiries has been running at the rate of about 100 an hour since the public information room opened on Tuesday 6 May. This service will be kept in operation as long as the demand requires.

Results of monitoring to date indicate that radioactivity in rainwater is falling, but the advice given by the NRPB on 5 May that fresh rainwater should not be drunk continuously should be followed for the present. This does not apply to water supplied from other sources.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, in his statement to the House on 6 May, set out the overall effects the radioactivity from Chernobyl on the United Kingdom and the measures taken in response to them. So far as Scotland is concerned, the general pattern as regards deposition of radioactivity has been similar to that in the northern parts of England and we do not expect the radioactive cloud to constitute a risk to the health of individuals. Monitoring will continue and the results be made available to the public and the House.