UK nuclear and sewage emissions on-line

A total of 28 nuclear sites have voluntarily provided data on radioactive releases; and of these, all were within authorised limits. The Environment Agency stated that radiological assessments and environmental monitoring confirmed that the impact of discharges is well within national and international dose limits and constraints.

The inclusion of large sewage treatment works – those serving populations greater than 150,000, was a requirement of a UK Government Ministerial Direction, issued to English water companies in March 2001. Initial figures cover the annual measured emissions of pollution inventory substances in water effluent in the year 2000. Progressively small sewage treatment works will be included in subsequent years.

These are the two latest industry groups to be added to the database that was established in 1999, and now has information on over 150 different pollutants from around 2000 of the largest industrial processes in England and Wales. Users can find out the emissions profile for any local area by providing the postcode or clicking on a map.

“Data from major industry overall continues to show a good downward trend with many of the most important pollutants to air and water showing significant reductions from 1999 to 2000,” said Environment Agency Head of Chemicals Policy Steve Killeen.