The Scottish Environment Statistics - 1998

7. RADIOACTIVITY

Table 7.1 Discharges of liquid radioactive waste from nuclear sites, 1992-1996 Nature of radioactivity Annual discharge 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 From Chapelcross Works (terabecquerels1) Tritium 0.7 0.5 0.49 0.5 0.368 Alpha emitters 0.0002 0.0005 0.0008 0.0007 0.00122 Beta emitters (excl. tritium) 0.071 0.27 0.31 0.16 0.111 From Dounreay (terabecquerels) Alpha emitters (excl curium 242) 0.026 0.099 0.1 0.086 0.071 Beta emitters (excl tritium) 6.4 8 9 7 6.28 Tritium 2.9 1 3.2 1.1 2.03 Cobalt 60 0.025 <0.019 <0.01 <0.027 0.035 Strontium 90 1.8 1.4 1.6 0.6 0.587 Zirconium 95 and Niobium 95 <0.012 <0.015 <0.012 <0.13 0.127 Ruthenium 106 0.5 <0.81 0.35 0.76 1.78 Silver 110 <0.0060 <0.0073 <0.0068 <0.0060 0.014 Caesium 137 3.1 3.8 4.7 3.7 4.61 Cerium 144 <0.024 <0.092 <0.026 <0.033 0.03 Plutonium 241 0.044 1.3 0.94 0.55 0.356 Curium 242 0.00094 <0.0013 <0.0007 <0.0065 0.0006 From Hunterston (terabecquerels) A Station Tritium 0.17 0.36 0.2 0.041 0.0229 Total activity (excl tritium) 0.21 0.29 0.21 0.15 0.141 B Station Tritium 245 362 423 449 399 Sulphur 35 1.7 2.1 1.5 1.7 1.37 Cobalt 60 na na na na 0,0019 Total alpha & beta (excl tritium and sulphur 35) 0.02 0.034 0.031 0.023 0.00414 From Torness (gigabecquerels2) Tritium3 250 235 220 270 298 Sulphur 353 0.048 0.021 0.019 0.042 0.044 Cobalt 60 3.5 1.4 0.26 0.67 0.502 Total beta (excluding tritium, sulphur 35 and cobalt 60) 11 8.4 1.2 1.6 1.3 Total alpha <0.014 <0.012 0.008 <0.009 0.0058 Sources: HM Industrial Pollution Inspectorate (up to 31/3/96) and the RIFE report (from 1/4/96) na: Not analysed. 1 1 terabecquerel = 1012 becquerels. 2 1 gigabecquerel = 109 becquerels. 3 For Tritium and Sulphur 35 figures are in terabecquerels. 4 Also excludes Cobalt 60.