1. Radiological Habits Survey and Food Monitoring Results
Chris Thomas
Radiological Safety, Food Policy
Tel:
West Cumbria Site
Stakeholder Group
Environmental Health WG
Radiological Habits Survey and Food Monitoring Results
Chris Thomas
Food Standards Agency
29 November 2018

2. Annual Sellafield review
Habits Survey
Annual Sellafield review

3. What is a Habits Survey?

4. Assessment of dose: Where Habits Surveys fit in
Level of radioactivity in the food
(Bq per kg)
Amount of food eaten
(kg per year)
Dose
(mSv per year)
Dose coefficient
(mSv per kg)
Monitoring programmes provide radionuclide concentrations (and dose rates)
Habits surveys provide consumption (and occupancy rates)
Assessment of doses to the public near nuclear sites

5. Sellafield Habits Survey and Annual Reviews
Habits surveys consider potential routes (pathways) by which individuals may become exposed to radioactivity, usually every 5 years
Looks at food consumption (aquatic and terrestrial) and time people spend in areas where contamination may be present
Annual reviews specifically investigate consumption of crustaceans, molluscs and fish, and time spent in intertidal areas which are are major contributors to the dose
Rates vary from year to year, some people ceasing seafood consumption, shellfish collection or intertidal activities and new individuals identified
Conducted by Cefas on behalf of Food Standards Agency, Environment Agency and Office for Nuclear Regulation.

6. Sellafield Annual Habits Review 2017
Last full habit survey published for Sellafield was conducted in 2013
Full habit survey conducted in 2018 – results in publication and will be presented in Autumn 2019
In 2017, annual review survey took place between 19 and 23 June
Interviews with members of the public with data collected for 58 people
Individuals asked to estimate the quantity of seafood eaten and time spent over intertidal areas, for themselves and family members
The 2017 Sellafield habits survey review and results used in the dose assessment in the RIFE report for 2017 was published in October 2018
Links to both Habits Survey and RIFE Reports and are available on the FSA website.
6 to 16 August 2018
52 surveyed in 2017

7. Aquatic Survey Area Extends from Parton to Tarn Bay.
Includes all intertidal areas and extends up to 11 km offshore.

8. Consumption rates over time
Consumption rates for the adult high-rate group for molluscs, 2008 – 2017 (kg / y)
Consumption rates for the adult high-rate group for crustaceans, 2008 – 2017 (kg / y)
Between 2014 and 2017:
Only minor changes in consumption rates

9. Food Monitoring near Sellafield

10. Fish and shellfish monitoring

11. Seafood monitoring results
Cobalt-60 liquid discharge from Sellafield and concentrations in plaice, lobsters and winkles near Sellafield,
Cobalt-60
Technetium-99
Technetium-99 liquid discharge from Sellafield and concentrations in plaice, lobsters and winkles near Sellafield,

12. Seafood monitoring results
Caesium-137
Caesium-137 liquid discharge from Sellafield and concentrations in plaice, lobsters and winkles near Sellafield,
Plutonium
Plutonium liquid discharge from Sellafield and concentrations in plaice, lobsters and winkles near Sellafield,

13. Seafood monitoring results
Polonium-210 discharge from Whitehaven and concentration in crabs at Parton,

14. Milk monitoring near Sellafield
Discharges of gaseous wastes and monitoring of milk near Sellafield,

15. Contributions to total dose from all sources
Total Dose (all major sources): mSv per year
Most exposed group: Seafood consumer (primarily sources other than Sellafield)
Dose from Sellafield discharges mSv per year
0.43 and mSv in 2016
Note: The highest total dose in 2013 due to Sellafield discharges was to people living on houseboats near Barrow in Cumbria

16. Contributions from each pathway of exposure to the total dose from all sources

18. Comparing Doses 7 mSv Dose due to Sellafield discharges 0.077 mSv
Total Dose for Sellafield 0.25 mSv
(Highlighted area from ingestion)

19. Thank you for your attention
Chris Thomas
Radiological and Novel Foods Policy
Tel:
Thank you for your attention
Any Questions?
Radioactivity in Food and the Environment Report 2017 (RIFE 23) and
Habits Survey Sellafield Review 2017 :