~40~
certain coastal areas of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of
Mexico can be
used as receiving waters for the controlled
disposal of packaged,
low level,
radioactive wastes under
certain prescribed conditions.
One of the areas where radioactivity is being added
continuously is the Irish Sea which receives low level
liquid wastes from the British Atomic Energy Authority plant
at Windscale.
Previous to the disposal of these liquid wastes by
Means of a pipe line to the shallow waters approximately one
mile off the British coast,
detail.
of
The circulation of surface waters in the vicinity
the outflow
persal
the problem had been studied in
method;
was determined by a
the breeding
and
fluorescein dye dismigratory
habits of
fish which were of commercial interest were studied for the
purpose of estimating the uptake of radioisotopes;
the
uptake of radioiodie by seaweed, which is used in a porridge
by local residents, was estimated; and the levels of radioactivity to which the people using the beaches would be
exposed were calculated.
When all of these factors were
taken into consideration the discharge of 1,000 curies per
month was authorized.
As a result of monitoring studies