[en] This report is the latest in an annual series presenting the results of the Board's fallout monitoring programme in the UK. The deposition of radionuclides and resulting dose equivalent commitments to the population for 1979 are reported. The UK average depositions of ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs in rain during 1979 were 8.7 and 11.9 MBq km^-2 respectively. These levels are less than 2% of those reported for 1963/64, the years of maximum fallout. They are 50%, or less, of the levels recorded in 1978. The low-yield explosion in China in the winter of 1978 was responsible for the deposition of short-lived radionuclides in the early months of 1979. Dose equivalent commitments from long-lived radioactivity deposited during 1979 increased those accumulated from atmospheric nuclear testing in earlier years by less than 1%. (author)

[en] This report is the latest in an annual series presenting the results of the Board's fallout monitoring programme in the UK. The deposition of radionuclides and resulting dose equivalent commitments to the population for 1978 are reported. The UK average depositions of ⁹⁰ Sr and ¹³⁷Cs in rain during 1978 were 17.4 and 31 MBq Km^-2 respectively. These levels are less that 3% of those reported for 1963/64, the years of maximum fallout. They are about 25% higher than the levels recorded in 1977. The increases are attributable mainly to a high yield Chinese bomb at the end of 1976. Low-yield explosions in China were also detected in the spring and winter of 1978. Dose equivalent commitment from long-lived radioactivity deposited during 1978 increased that accumulated from atmospheric nuclear testing in earlier years by about 1%. (author)

[en] An accident at the nuclear power station in Chernobyl, near Kiev, USSR on 26 April 1986 caused substantial quantities of radioactive material to be released into the atmosphere. Winds transported some of the material towards northern and western Europe. Radioactivity from Chernobyl was detected in the United Kingdom, 2000 km away, almost a week later on 2 May. Government Departments, the National Radiological Protection Board, and the operators of nuclear installations had anticipated this eventuality and from 28 April intensified their normal programmes of environmental monitoring. DOE established a Technical Information Centre in the Incident Control Room at the Marsham Street Headquarters, which was manned by representatives of DTp, MAFF, DHSS, NRPB with DOE taking the lead and providing administrative support. Close links were maintained with other operational centres including those in the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Offices. Ten bulletins were issued by the Centre and two collations of monitoring data were prepared and made available to the public. These monitoring data had been compiled by the National Radiological Protection Board and are subsumed in this document. Monitoring of environmental materials is continuing as necessary. For example, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has a programme for measuring radioactivity in a wide range of foodstuffs; it has already published results and intends to publish more

[en] A brief report is given of a seminar on the exposure to enhanced natural radiation and its regulatory implications held in 1985 at Maastricht, the Netherlands. The themes of the working sessions included sources of enhanced natural radiation, parameters influencing human exposure, measurement and survey programmes, technical countermeasures, risk and assessment studies, philosophies of dose limitations and national and international policies. (U.K.)

[en] Measurements of radon in 92,000 dwellings throughout England to the end of 1991 show that the average concentration is 21 Bq m^-3 with some values several hundred times higher. Around 12,000 of these dwellings are above the Action Level of 200 Bq m^-3 adopted by Government. Most of the measurements and most of the high radon results are in Cornwall and Devon, with Derbyshire, Northamptonshire and Somerset being the next most affected counties, and some indications of excess radon elsewhere. Data are presented in considerable detail and in summary form. An estimated 100,000 dwellings in England exceed the Action Level, of these about two-thirds are in the southwest peninsula. Recommendations are made to facilitate discovery and ensure that no area affected by radon is overlooked. (Author)

[en] This report is the third in an annual series presenting the results of the Board's fallout monitoring programme in the UK. The deposition of radionuclides and resulting dose equivalent commitments to the population for 1977 are reported. The UK average depositions of ⁹⁰ Sr and ¹³⁷ Cs in rain during 1977 were 13.0 and 25.6 Mbq km^-2 respectively. These levels are less than 2% of those reported for 1963, the year of maximum fallout. They are similar to the levels measured in 1975 and two to three times higher than those measured in 1976. A low-yield explosion was also detected in the autumn of 1977. Dose equivalent commitment from long-lived radioactivity deposited during 1977 increased that accumulated from atmospheric nuclear testing in earlier years by about 1%. (author)

[en] This new report brings together and updates the information in three earlier reports on radon levels in English and Welsh homes. In particular, data from measurements in over 400,000 homes in England and Wales are presented in tabular format. The tables give the data by various administrative divisions, down to electoral wards for Cornwall, Devon and Somerset and council areas elsewhere and to sector level of the postcode system. The radon probability maps are based on the national grid system and show significantly more locational detail than the previous publications, an extra division in the probability banding to coincide with current Government initiatives on radon in England and, in southwest England, more detailed probability mapping than before - by 1 km grid squares in place of the 5 km grid squares used in Wales and the rest of England. (author)

[en] The Board has set up a fallout monitoring programme in the UK. Samples of rainwater and airborne dust are collected and analysed for fission products and plutonium isotopes. This report presents the results of analyses of samples collected during 1975. The UK average depositions of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr in rain during 1975 were 0.66 mCi km^-2 and 0.48 mCi km^-2 respectively. These both represent less than 2% of values reported in 1963, the year in which fallout reached a maximum. No nuclear tests were reported in 1975 and no input of fresh fission product activity from nuclear tests was detected in that year. Dose commitments for the UK due to fallout deposited in 1975 are presented. These increase the cumulative dose commitments by about 1%. (author)

[en] The UK average depositions of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr in rain during 1976 were 0.22 mCi km^-2 and 0.19 mCi km^-2, respectively. These represent about 33% and 40% of values reported for 1975 and are both less than 1% of those reported for 1963, the year of maximum fallout. Trace amounts of fresh ¹³¹I and ¹⁴⁰Ba, attributable to the low yield Chinese nuclear test on 24 January 1976, were detected in air at Chilton during February 1976, but the effect on the concentrations of long-lived radioactivity was negligible. Fresh fission products in larger concentrations, attributable to the Chinese nuclear test of 26 September 1976, were detected at all UK stations during the last quarter of 1976, and it is estimated that during the first week of October about 25% of the long-lived activity near ground level was due to this explosion. This contribution fell to about 6% by mid-November. No increase in levels due to the Chinese high yield nuclear test of 17 November 1976 was observed above the background of the previous test. This later explosion is expected to result in increased levels of long-lived radioactivity at ground level during 1977 and, to a lesser extent, in subsequent years. Dose commitments due to deposited short-lived radioactivity increased during 1976 by about 40% compared with 1975, largely as a result of the Chinese nuclear test of 26 Septemner 1976. However, this increase was outweighed by the decrease in dose commitment due to deposition of long-lived radioactivity, which was only one-third of the 1975 value because of fallout and decay processes. Dose commitments from long-lived radioactivity deposited during 1976 increased the cumulative dose commitments due to atmospheric nuclear testing in earlier years by about 0.3%. (author)

[en] Surveys of radon in homes need to have a clear purpose and be executed in an effective manner. In the UK, surveys are designed to identify the most affected homes in the simplest way. The programme is based on measurements provided free to homeowners by Government. Contact with homeowners is exclusively through the National Radiological Protection Board. The nature of the work imposes stringent requirements with regard to clarity of communication, quality of operation, and confidentiality of information. The magnitude of the task - with above 75,000 new participants in the programme each year -requires considerable effort and streamlined procedures. (author)