[ RadSafe ] Robots scour sea for atomic wasteSubmarines search for radioactive material dumped off the Scottish coast in the 1980s

[Fred Dawson]

Guardian Reports:- 

Robot submarines are to be used to sweep particles of plutonium and other
radioactive materials from the seabed near one of Britain's biggest nuclear
plants in one of the most delicate clean-up operations ever in this country.

Each submersible will be fitted with a Geiger counter and will crisscross
the sea floor to pinpoint every deadly speck close to Dounreay on Scotland's
north coast before lifting each particle and returning it to land for safe
storage.

Two kilometres of beach outside the Dounreay nuclear plant have been closed
since 1983, and fishing banned, when it was found old fuel rod fragments
were being accidentally pumped into the sea. The cause was traced and
corrected but particles - including plutonium specks, each capable of
killing a person if swallowed - are still being washed on to this bleakly
beautiful stretch of sand and cliff on mainland Britain's northern edge.

Full report

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/may/25/pollution.conservation

 

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