Annual Report for 2010/11 and Forward Programme - Sellafield Ltd

SSEM/2011/4730 June 20113.1.5 Risks from particles found in the environmentThe Health Protection Agency has continued to advise the Environment Agency on the risksassociated with using the beaches around Sellafield. Throughout the last six years SellafieldLtd has provided the EA and the HPA with all the available monitoring and analysis data ithas acquired to assist with determining the risk of particles in the environment.As part of formulating the overall risk, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has also beenasked for their position regarding risks from consumption of seafood.In April 2011 the Health Protection Agency published their risk assessment (Brown andEtherington, 2011).Copied below is the assessment synopsis:The HPA confirm that the advice provided in 2009 (Cooper, 2009), that "no specialprecautionary actions are required at this time to limit access to or use of beaches" remainsvalid. The FSA have also confirmed that the risks associated with consumption of seafood"is acceptable" (Tossell, 2011).3.1.6 ConclusionsIn total, 319 hectares, between Allonby and Drigg point were monitored and 383 radioactivefinds were recovered. The overall number of finds and associated find rate has increasedcompared to the previous year of monitoring. However this is attributed to the introduction ofthe more sensitive Groundhog TM Synergy detection array.The overall distribution of finds corresponded with previous monitoring years, with a closegeographic association with the Sellafield Nuclear Licensed Site. Furthermore, a significantproportion of all beach finds were recovered on Sellafield and Braystones beach which isconsistent with modelling work undertaken in 2006 (Vives Lynch, 2006). Finds were detectedon new monitoring areas at Whitehaven and Harrington and further monitoring will be carriedout on these areas in 2011/12.© Nuclear Decommissioning Authority 2011. 32