UK: Sellafield nuclear plant detects elevated levels of radioactivity (Natural radon activity now suspected)

[Ronan Kelly]

Sellafield plant detects elevated levels of radioactivity
Reuters By Kate Holton and Sarah Young
1 hour ago
(Reporting by Kate Holton and Sarah Young; editing by William Schomberg, Guy Faulconbridge and Will Waterman)

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's biggest nuclear reprocessing plant said on Friday it had detected raised levels of radioactivity and ordered all non-essential staff to stay at home.

Sellafield, on the coast of the Irish sea in northwest England, said the levels of radioactivity detected were above naturally occurring radiation, though there was no risk to the public or the workforce and the facilities were operating normally.

The British government said it was in constant contact with the site but had no reason to believe it was any more serious than the plant had said.

"As a result of a conservative and prudent decision, the Sellafield site is operating normally but with reduced manning levels today," Sellafield said in a statement, adding that only essential workers were being asked to report to work.
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http://news.yahoo.com/uk-39-sellafi...vity-084128793.html?soc_src=mediacontentstory

 

[Emily]

Re: UK: Sellafield nuclear plant detects elevated levels of radioactivity (Natural radon activity now suspected)

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jan/31/sellafield-radiation-alarm-radon-gas-nuclear-reprocessing

Sellafield radiation alarm triggered by rise in 'naturally occurring' radon gas
Nuclear reprocessing plant told thousands of staff to stay home after monitor measured higher than normal levels of radiation

Ian Sample
theguardian.com, Friday 31 January 2014 09.52 EST

...

Radioactive radon gas is emitted naturally from certain rocks and seeps up through the ground, though levels are typically not very high in Cumbria. The spike in radon gas at the site might have been caused by a low pressure weather system coming in from the west.

Officials at the site are investigating why only one radioactive monitor at the edge of the site picked up the higher radiation level. None of the radiation detectors in and on buildings at site went off...