§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he plans to review definitions for low-level standards of radioactive materials discharged into sewers;
(2) if he has plans to review current arrangements for authorising and monitoring discharges of low-level radioactive waste into sewers;
21W(3) what action he is taking to monitor potentially dangerous levels of radioactivity, resulting from authorised discharges of low-level, radioactive waste into sewers, accessible to water workers and consumers;
(4) what measures are available to ensure that both water workers and consumers are not exposed to potentially dangerous levels of radioactivity resulting from authorised discharges of low-level radioactive waste into sewers;
(5) if he will improve public access to information dealing with the discharge of low-level radioactive waste into sewers;
(6) what definition he uses for low-level radioactivity and safe levels of radioactive waste, for substances currently discharged into sewerage systems;
(7) what projected long-term environmental impact is expected if current level discharges of low-level, radioactive waste into sewers continue; and how this is monitored;
(8) if he will take steps to ensure regular checks are made on water workers to establish personal contamination levels resulting from the disposal of radioactive materials into sewers.
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 28 October 1992]: Discharges of low-level radioactive waste to the public sewerage system are strictly regulated by means of authorisations issued under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960—RSA60—by her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution—HMIP. Authorisations are issued only after a careful radiological assessment, and impose strict conditions and activity limits which ensure proper protection from such disposals for all members of the public, including sewer workers. I am satisfied that the current arrangements, which are kept under constant review, provide a fully satisfactory regime for regulating radioactive waste disposals and I have no plans to make changes at present. Since 1 January 1991 the public have had the right of access to information on applications and authorisations issued under RSA60. These documents are held at local authority offices and at the three principal HMIP offices in Bedford, Leeds and Bristol.
Results of a research study conducted on behalf of HMIP by the National Radiological Protection board into the exposure of sewer workers associated with radioactive discharges from hospitals was published in June 1991. It found that doses of radiation to those sewer workers with long exposure near to hospital discharge points are approximately one hundredth that of natural background levels.
Further research conducted on behalf of HMIP by St. Bartholomew's medical college into the levels of Iodine 125 in drinking water show that actual radiation exposure to the public is less than one hundredth that of natural background levels. I-125 is a principal component of discharges from hospitals. I am arranging for copies of both of these reports—DOE/HMIP/RR/91/030 and 031—to be placed in the Library of the House. The studies form part of an HMIP-commissioned programme of research into the environmental behaviour of radionuclides. These studies demonstrate that the dose levels are so low that no further precautions need to be taken either by sewer workers or other members of the public. A programme for monitoring radioactivity in public water supplies in England and Wales has operated for many years. Results from this programme are published in the 22W Department's "Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics", a copy of which is in the Library. Results to date show levels below the World Health Organisation guideline values. This confirms that the water is potable on radiological grounds and thus there is no hazard to the public. Selective monitoring of private water supplies is also undertaken under contract to this Department.