radioactively contaminated pigeons

["Frederic Dawson" <ydc90@dial.pipex.com>]

RADSAFERS may be interested to know about the continuing saga of
radioactively contaminated pigeons at Sellafield. BRITISH NUCLEAR FUELS
stands accused by an official report of mismanaging its Sellafield site
after contaminated wild pigeons carried radioactivity to a garden two miles
along the coast. The pigeons had fed in the garden for a number of years,
the report says, contaminating it so much that all the soil, and garden
gnomes, had to be dug up by BNFL and sent to a nuclear waste dump.

PRESS RELEASE - COMARE/RWMAC REPORT: Radioactive Contamination

at a Property in Seascale, Cumbria


In October 1998, radioactively contaminated pigeons were reported at a
private property in the village of Seascale, Cumbria, where pigeons had been
fed for a number of years. Investigations showed that limited areas of the
property, mainly the garden, were also significantly contaminated.

The Committee on the Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment
(COMARE) was requested by the Department of Health to investigate the public
health implications. COMARE requested assistance from the Radioactive Waste
Management Advisory Committee (RWMAC) on the possible sources of radioactive
contamination of the pigeons. This report contains the findings of the two
committees and accompanies a report prepared jointly by the Local Authority,
Government Departments and Agencies which provides more details of the
contamination at Seascale and of the subsequent steps to decontaminate the
property[1].

Possible sources of radioactive contamination of pigeons

The most likely explanation for the radioactive contamination at the
property is that it had been brought by pigeons from the nuclear plant at
Sellafield. Some older buildings on the Sellafield site are thought to be
the most likely origin. A number of these buildings are no longer
operational and are being decommissioned. It will, however, be well into the
next century before they are all dismantled.

The contamination at the property at Seascale appears to have arisen from an
unusual combination of circumstances: pigeons flocking in large numbers to a
particular location carrying with them radioactive contamination. Apart from
this property and a currently disused property, pigeons are not thought to
congregate elsewhere in Seascale.

Health implications

The additional risk to the health of the occupants of the Seascale property,
and of the neighbouring properties, from this radioactive contamination is
not significant. In particular, this incident is not thought to be
associated with the observed elevated incidence of leukaemia in young people
in Seascale.

Conclusions

COMARE and RWMAC have stated that it is unacceptable that the Sellafield
site has been managed in a way that pigeons became contaminated to the
extent that property away from Sellafield also became significantly
contaminated. Furthermore, the two committees have also stated that
continued vigilance and preparedness is necessary in order to prevent
similar incidents involving wildlife from occurring in the future, either at
Sellafield or elsewhere.


Press Enquiries: Professor B A Bridges Tel: 01273-678123

RWMAC Tel: 0171-890-62260/6254

Copies of the COMARE/RWMAC Report can be obtained from NRPB Information
Office, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon OX1 0RQ (cheque for £8.50, £7.50 plus £1.00
postage and packing, with cheque payable to NRPB)
Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment
c/o National Radiological Protection Board, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon OX11 0RQ
Tel: 01235-832447 (Scientific) P 01235-822629 (Scientific/Administration) P
Fax: 01235-832447

Web Site: http://www.open.gov.uk/doh/comare.htm

Chairman: Professor B A Bridges
Radioactive Waste Management Committee (RWMAC)
Zone 4/D9 Ashdown House
123 Victoria Street
London SW1E 6D
Acting Chairman: Professor C Curtis

Note for Editors

COMARE has published two previous reports in relation to a possible link
between the incidence of childhood leukaemia at Seascale and the radiation
exposure of the Seascale population. The latest of these reports published
in 1996 affirmed that the current estimate of radiation doses to the
Seascale population, due to both routine and accidental discharges, was far
too small to account for the observed excess of cases of leukaemia and
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma on the basis of present knowledge.

The RWMAC's terms of reference are to advise the Secretaries of State for
the Environment, Transport and the Regions, and the Secretaries of State for
Scotland and for Wales on the technical and environmental implications of
major issues concerning the development and implementation of an overall
policy for all aspects of the management of civil radioactive waste,
including research and development; and on any such matters referred to it
by the Secretaries of State. The RWMAC publishes a number of individual
reports each year, covering a range of radioactive waste management topics.

Both committees have previously published a report on "Potential Health
Effects and Possible Sources of Radioactive Particles Found in the Vicinity
of Dounreay Nuclear Establishment".

Reference

[1] Copeland Borough Council et al. The Radiological Implications of
Contaminated Feral Pigeons found at Sellafield and Seascale. Available from
the Environment Agency, Penrith Office, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 9BP or NRPB,
Chilton, Didcot, Oxon OX11 0RQ.

Fred Dawson
3 Barnsbury Close, New Malden
Surrey. KT3 5BP
England
44(181) 287 2176
Personal webb page : http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/drive/ydc90/
Work Email : modsafety@gtnet.gov.uk


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