Technetium-99 in the Irish marine environment

Assessment of Tc-99 monitoring within the western Irish Sea using a numerical model

“…Smith et al (2000) suggest a transit time between Sellafield to Balbriggan of around 3 years, whereas Smith et al (2001) from a monitoring data deduced two-year transit time. Mitchell et al (1987) found transit times to Dublin of 6-12 months, and proposed an upper limit of 1.6 years.…”

“…Consequently, a significant portion of material was retained in the Irish Sea system and contributed to exceptionally high levels on the east coast of Ireland during summer of 1997. Smith et al (2001) maintains that there is a relationship between peak discharges of 1995…”

“…In 1994 an Enhanced Actinade Removal Plant (EARP) was commissioned; the consequence of this has been elevated levels of Tc-99 in Sellafield discharges. The presence of Tc-99 material within the Irish Sea has had a well-recognized impact on a marine ecosystem; the environmental risks to the biota and to the seafood consumer have been widely reported in recent years (Hunt et al, 1998;Smith et al, 2001). …”

Determination of technetium-99 in environmental samples: A review

“…Seawater in these areas is contaminated and the concentration of 99 Tc is enhanced. About 500 mBq L -1 of 99 Tc has been measured in seawater collected in an area close to the discharge point at Sellafield reprocessing plant in the Irish Sea [42], and a concentration of 60 mBq L -1 has been measured in seawater from the open Irish Sea in 1996-1997 [43]. The level of 99 Tc then decreases to below 20 mBq L -1 after 1998 [26].…”

Effects of complex hydrodynamic processes on the horizontal and vertical distribution of Tc-99 in the Irish Sea

“…The accumulation and retention Tc-99 in marine organisms has been well documented (Hunt et al, 1998;Smith et al, 2001;Nowakowski et al, 2004;Copplestone et al, 2004;Oliver et al, 2006). Consequent doses to members of the pubic from seafood consumption have been also assessed (CEFAS, 2008;Ryan et al, 2000;Colgan et al, 2008).…”