§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the highest levels of radioactivity recorded in milk samples in south-west Wales; on what days such levels were recorded in the time period since the nuclear reactor disaster at Chernobyl; and how these levels compared with those recorded prior to this incident.
§ Mr. Mark RobinsonThe most radiologically significant radionuclides found in samples taken since the Chernobyl nuclear accident have been iodine 131 and caesium 137. In south-west Wales iodine 131 was at its highest at 18 becquerels/litre in a sample taken from milk in Haverfordwest on 5 May 1986. Caesium 137 was at its highest at 23 becquerels/litre in a sample taken from the same source on 11 May 1986. These levels are well below the emergency reference levels for milk of 2,000 becquerels/litre and 3,600 becquerels/litre respectively. Regular monitoring near Carmarthen prior to the incident revealed background levels for caesium 137 of 0.1 becquerels/litre but no detectable levels of iodine 131.
§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales what were the highest levels of radioactivity recorded in samples of rainwater collected in south-west Wales; when such levels were recorded following the Chernobyl disaster; and how such levels compared with those recorded prior to the incident.
§ Mr. Mark RobinsonThe Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell has assessed the level of radioactivity in rainwater at its monitoring point in Mil ford Haven to be approximately 5.6 becquerels per litre of iodine 131 on 3 May. Iodine 131 is not mormally found in rainfall. Caesium 137 in samples taken from rainfall at Milford Haven following the Chenobyl incident was below the level of detection as it has been for at least the last three years.