The Scottish Environment Statistics - 1998

7. RADIOACTIVITY

Table 7.2 Radioactive waste discharge to the atmosphere,1992-1996 Nature of radioactivity Annual discharge 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 From Chapelcross Works (terabecquerels) Tritium 1,500 1,500 1,600 1,600 1,120 Sulphur 35 0.022 0.021 0.022 0.025 0.028 Argon 41 3,000 3,200 3,200 3,200 3,210 From Dounreay Fuel Cycle Area (gigabecquerels1) Alpha emitters (excl curium 242 and 244) 0.16 0.094 0.085 0.19 0.0287 Beta emitters (excl tritium and Krypton 85) 4 2.3 2.7 7.4 1.15 Tritium2 0.31 <0.29 <0.029 <0.034 0.276 Krypton 852 448 640 647 494 218 Strontium 90 0.96 0.65 0.98 2.4 0.663 Ruthenium 106 0.15 0.3 0.15 0.84 0.0306 Iodine 129 0.12 <0.12 <0.081 <0.068 <0.30 0.0206 Iodine 131 (organic and inorganic) 0.021 <0.015 <0.027 <0.020 0.0147 Caesium 134 0.14 0.044 <0.051 0.23 0.0051 Caesium 137 2.23 0.085 1.48 3.7 0.177 Cerium 144 0.44 <0.13 0.071 <0.71 0.0163 Plutonium 241 0.06 1.3 1.4 2.2 0.597 Curium 242 0.017 <0.006 <0.0032 0.1 0.00756 Curium 2443 0.008 <0.0024 <0.0032 0.014 0.0136 From Hunterston (terabecquerels) A Station Tritium 0.069 0.035 0.031 0.016 0.000558 Carbon 14 0.043 0.015 0.037 0.032 0.00975 Sulphur 35 nd na na na na Argon 41 nd na na na na Beta particulate4 0.0011 0.0036 0.0025 0.0013 0.000161 B Station Tritium 2.6 4.6 2.9 5 2.18 Carbon 14 0.84 0.99 1.1 1.3 1.35 Sulphur 35 0.051 0.15 0.059 0.086 0.0788 Argon 41 21 30 30 55 49.5 Beta particulate4 0.12 0.18 0.13 0.074 0.0356 From Torness (terabecquerels) Tritium 1.3 1.7 1.7 1.3 1.26 Carbon 14 0.35 0.55 0.49 0.49 0.571 Sulphur 35 0.03 0.021 0.021 0.025 0.0254 Argon 41 3.8 5 8.1 7 6.99 Beta particulate4 0.013 0.026 0.071 0.014 0.0148 Sources: HM Industrial Pollution Inspectorate (up to 31/3/96) and the RIFE report (from 1/4/96) nd : not detected na : not analysed 1 1 gigabecquerel = 109 becquerels 2 For tritium and krypton 85 the unit is terabecquerels 3 The discharge figures include any curium 243 present 4 For beta particulates the units are gigabecquerels