Radioactivity report published

29 Oct 2015 12:13 PM

The FSA has published the annual Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE) report, which shows that the level of man-made radioactivity to which people in the UK are exposed, remained below the EU legal limit during 2014. No food safety concerns were identified.

Key findings

The key findings are:

• The total radiation dose to members of the public in the UK is significantly below the EU annual dose limit of 1 millisievert for all exposures.

• The exposure of consumers to radioactivity in 2014 was similar than in 2013 for the majority of nuclear sites.

• In 2014, the highest doses the public received were Sellafield (0.22mSv), Capenhurst (0.17mSv) and Amersham (0.14mSv), as opposed to last year when the location with the highest dose was Amersham (0.22mSv). The increase in the ranking of Sellafield compared to last year was established following a re-assessment of exposure pathways in 2014, including an observed increase in seafood consumption. The doses received around Amersham and Capenhurst are mainly result of direct radiation from sources on the sites.

• In 2014, habit surveys were carried out at Berkeley, Oldbury, Hartlepool and Sellafield in England. The results were used to improve the assessment of doses to the members of the public near nuclear licensed sites.

• Between April 2014 and March 2015, 383 contaminated particles were found in the Cumbrian coastlines originating from Sellafield by an ongoing survey programme which started in 2006. (An increase from 117 particles in the previous year.) These were removed by the site operator. The increase in the number of finds is due to the improvements in the detection capability of the mobile survey units that are used. A recent report by Public Health England describes the assessed health risks from the consumption of seafood (including those to commercial fishermen) from radioactive particles in the vicinity of the Sellafield site. Based on currently available information, it is concluded that the overall health risks to both seafood consumers and commercial fishermen are very low.

• Following the Fukushima accident in Japan in 2011, food import controls from that country were introduced, and further revised during 2012. Monitoring at UK ports of entry showed little or no radioactivity in food.

• Sampling for freshwater fish affected by the 1986 Chernobyl accident ceased in upland lakes in 2014 following a risk-based review by the FSA.

Read the report

RIFE 2014 - Introduction to Section 4 (5.13 MB)

RIFE 2014 - Section 5 to Appendices (3.87 MB)

Where the results come from

The report combines FSA’s monitoring results with those of the Environment Agency, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. It also combines the FSA’s data on food with data on environmental sources of radioactivity to provide a comprehensive picture for people who live close to nuclear sites and eat locally produced food.

Radioactivity has been around since the Earth began and it exists naturally in the atmosphere, soil, seas and rivers. It is also created by human activity during energy production and military operations, and very small amounts get into the food and drink we consume. However, the vast majority of radioactivity found in food results from natural rather than man-made sources.

The main purpose of the FSA’s monitoring programme is to make sure that levels of radionuclides in food and drink from discharges do not cause unacceptable exposure to radioactivity through our food.

Our sampling strategy: tell us what you think

In 2014, the FSA’s monitoring programme was revised after a risk-based review of our programme which led to changes in the sampling strategy. We are seeking feedback from stakeholders about these changes by asking these two questions:

1. Based on the information in this RIFE report, do you consider that the FSA has successfully implemented changes in monitoring after the risk-based review conducted in 2013?
2. Have you found any unforeseen consequences or impacts as a result of the implemented changes in the monitoring that were not considered in the FSA’s consultation?

If you have any feedback, please email your comments to radiation@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk by Monday 30 November 2015.

Read the Board paper (June 2013)

FSA 13/06/04 - Radioactivity in Food Monitoring (265.94 KB)