HC Deb 25 October 1990 vol 178 c269W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what requirements exist for the treatment of waste water to be undertaken by print workers before discharge to local sewers or natural drainage channels.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

[holding answer 23 October 1990]: The treatment required will depend on the terms of the trade effluent consent by the relevant sewerage undertaker or, for natural drainage channels, the terms of the discharge consent by the National Rivers Authority.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the risk to print workers posed by the discovery of the radioactive isotopes Caesium 137, Caesium 134 and Cobalt 60 in newsprint imported from Scandinavian countries since April 1986.

Mr. Forth

[holding answer 23 October 1990]: I have been asked to reply.

Measurements of Caesium 137 present in paper imported from Scandinavia indicate levels of contamination little higher than those present in any natural material. This would represent only a negligible hazard to print workers handling newsprint.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has no records of measurements for Caesium 134 and Cobalt 60 in newsprint imported from Scandinavia. However, HSE can confidently state that these measurements would be less than that for Caesium 137.