HC Deb 05 June 1991 vol 192 cc257-8W
Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table indicating levels of Strontium 90 detected in rainfall in Wales in each year since 1961; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

Monitoring of Strontium-90 in rainfall has been conducted on a regular basis at only two sites in Wales. The available information is given in the table.

Annual Deposition of Strontium-90 from Rainfall1 Megabecquerels per square kilometer
Milford Haven2 Bridgend3
1961 91 4
1962 350 4
1963 770 4
1964 430 4
1965 180 4
1966 110 4
1967 45 4
1968 46 4
1969 31 4
1970 44 4
1971 52 4
1972 4 4
1973 4 4
1974 4 4
1975 4 8.1
1976 4 9.7
1977 4 15.4
1978 4 12.3
1979 4 15.7
1980 4 5.6
1981 4 20.3
1982 4 4.2
1983 4 5
1984 <5 5
1985 <3 5
1986 2.2 5
1987 <2 5
1988 <2 5
1989 4 5
1990 4 5
1 Levels reached a peak in the early 1960s following nuclear weapons tests in 1961 and 1962. 1981 levels were increased by fallout from Chinese atomic weapons tests in October 1980.
2 Source: Atomic Energy Authority Technology.
3 Source: National Radiological Protection Board.
4 Not available.
5 Nil or below limits of detection.