Written question asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 3 December 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 December 1998. It was answered by Jon Owen Jones (Labour) on Monday, 14 December 1998 on behalf of the Welsh Office.

Welsh Office

Question: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what action his Department proposes to take to reduce the levels of tritium found in sole, flounder and mussels in the Severn Estuary; and if he will make a statement. - Inc figs.

Answer: Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action his Department proposes to take to reduce the levels of tritium found in sole, flounder and mussels in the Severn Estuary; and if he will make a statement. [62964] Mr. Jon Owen Jones: I have been asked to reply. In 1999, Nycomed Amersham will be applying for a new discharge authorisation from the Environment Agency. It will be for the Agency to determine the level of discharge of tritium that would be appropriate. The Secretary of State will be a statutory consultee reflecting his responsibilities for food safety. In terms of dose to the critical group of fishermen, and fish and shellfish consumers, it is estimated that the current tritium concentrations in fish and shellfish contribute 40-45 microsieverts per year. Together with the dose from carbon-14 the total dose to the critical group is 60 microsieverts per year. This is well below the established limit of 1,000 microsieverts per year, and the dose constraint of 300 microsieverts per year from new sources.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 62964; 322 c407W;322 c406-7W
Session: 1998-99
Subjects: Hazardous substances Fish Pollution Shellfish Rivers Sole Severn estuary Nycomed Amersham Tritium
Contains statistics: Yes