Radiation Monitoring

The Isle of Wight Council joined The Southern England Radiation Monitoring Group (SERMG) which was established following the Chernobyl disaster in 1987. Its purpose was to provide communities with independent radiation monitoring in their areas. The value of this data was to identify any fluctuations in radioactive content of environmental materials which may be man-made in origin. The Isle of Wight Council collected samples, which were analysed by SERMG’s laboratory, from the following locations (see also the site map).

High-resolution gamma ray spectrometry and alpha spectrometry were used to obtain radiochemical data from a wide range of samples taken from marine, estuarine and terrestrial sources including locally produced foodstuffs. The Council took part in the sampling for more than fifteen years which has produced a very reliable dataset of background radiation levels. The data shows little of radiological significance so no further samples will be taken for the foreseeable future.

General information to assist in understanding data tables 

The data tables contain information on the numerous samples that have been taken, the type of sample, where it was taken and its radiological content. The radioactivity of each sample is measured in Becquerels per kilogram (Bq/kg) or Becquerels per litre (Bq/l) for specific radionuclides from man-made sources. A Becquerel describes the rate at which radioactive decay takes place and corresponds to the decay or disintegration of one radioactive atom per second. It is an extremely small measure of radioactivity Data showing 0 are below detection limit, whereas data with a “less than” value (e.g. <1 Bq/lg) are at the detection limit and a signal is seen but is too small to quantify.

A Becquerel describes the rate at which radioactive decay takes place and corresponds to the decay or disintegration of one radioactive atom per second. It is an extremely small measure of radioactivity.

A Radionuclide is an unstable form of an element that emits radioactivity. The following radionuclides are referred to in the tables (with the abbreviations used given after):-To assist with understanding the significance of the radiological levels reported, Generalised Derived Limits (GDLs) are included before the data tables.

ANTHROPOGENIC 

51 Chromium = 51Cr
131 Iodine = 131I
59 Iron = 59Fe
134 Caesium = 134Cs
54 Magnesium = 54Mn
137 Caesium = 137Cs
58 Cobalt = 58 Co
238 Plutonium = 238Pu
65 Zinc = 65Zn
239,240 Plutonium = 239,240Pu
241 Americium = 241Am

NATURAL 

40 Potassium = 40K
7 Beryllium = 7 BE