Publication Abstract

Industrial sources of naturally-occurring radionuclides in the eastern Irish Sea

M. McCartney, P.J. Kershaw, D.J. Allington, A.K. Young and D. Turner

Anthropogenically enhanced levels of various natural radionuclides are maintained in the Irish Sea by a number of local industries. The two major sources are the Albright & Wilson Marchon plant at Whitehaven (a chemical factory involved in phosphate production) and the nuclear fuel element production plant Springfields, which is situated on the Ribble estuary. For example, ²²⁶Ra activities of over 60 mBq.l^-1 have been observed in filtered sea water collected near Whitehaven and ²³⁴Th activities in excess of 1 MBq.kg^-1 dry have been measured in the muddy sediment of the Ribble estuary. In addition, both the Sellafield nuclear fuel reprocessing plant and the low level radioactive waste repository at Drigg have been identified as potential sources of natural radionuclides.

Reference:

M. McCartney, P.J. Kershaw, D.J. Allington, A.K. Young and D. Turner, 1992. Industrial sources of naturally-occurring radionuclides in the eastern Irish Sea.Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 45(1): 711-714.