Radioactive Discharges (Hansard, 10 March 1993)

§ Mr. Maclean

Discharges of radioactive waste to the public sewerage system and to watercourses are strictly regulated by means of authorisations issued under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution—HMIP. Authorisations are issued only after a careful radiological assessment and impose strict conditions and maximum activity limits which ensure proper protection from such disposals for all members of the public, including sewer workers. Discharges in excess of the set limits would be an offence and could render an operator liable to prosecution.

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 discarges 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 100th that of natural back-ground 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 100th that of natural background levels. I-125 is a principal component of discharges from hospitals. Both these reports (DOE/HMIP/RR/91/030 and 031) are in the Library of the House. The studies form part of an HMIP-commissioned programme of research into the environmental behaviour of radionuclides.

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 Department's "Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics" a copy of which is in the Library. Selective monitoring of private water supplies is also undertaken under contract to this Department.