Back to Media Releases

MEDIA RELEASE
(embargoed until 10 a.m. Wednesday 26 February 2003)

ILLAWARRA RADIONUCLIDE INVESTIGATION

RADIATION FINDINGS REASSURING

An independent, two-year investigation into radionuclides (radioactive particles) emitted from heavy industry in the Illawarra has found that the public dose from industrial sources is less than one twentieth of the annual public dose limit. This small contribution is far less than the natural background dose and much smaller than the natural variability in radiation dose measured worldwide.

The report was released today by the Illawarra Radionuclide Investigation Committee, which oversaw the investigation.

“This investigation has been important in measuring the levels of radionuclides from heavy industry and clarifying the potential health risk for the community,” committee chairman Frank Wallner said.

“The public can be assured that we have not left a stone unturned in finding answers to the community’s concerns about this issue,” Mr Wallner added.

The Illawarra Radionuclide Investigation Committee comprises community, government and industry representatives and was convened by Healthy Cities Illawarra. The committee contracted the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) to undertake the scientific work defined in the Terms of Reference.

“It has been a valuable process with all major stakeholders participating equally throughout. The result is that the report has been able to really focus on answering community concerns in a transparent and open way,” Mr Wallner said.

The report comprises five sections including:

• a detailed investigation of the Ore Sinter Plant at BHP Steel,
• a review of other potential radionuclide sources in the region,
• a meteorological study to determine the areas in the community most likely to be impacted by emissions,
• a community impact study to measure the concentrations found in the environment, and
• a radiological risk assessment determining the potential radiological exposure.

Mr Frank Harris, senior health physicist from ANSTO and the scientific coordinator of the study, said: “This has been a comprehensive investigation which has considered all the possible ways people could be exposed to radiation. Our finding is that while industry contributes slightly to human exposure, it is well below the public dose limit of 1 milli-Seivert (mSv).”

The investigation found that the annual dose contribution, from all industries including the BHP Steel Sinter Plant, would be less than 0.05 mSv.

“To put that amount in context, a return air flight from Sydney to Perth would expose a person to approximately the same dose of radiation as heavy industry in the Illawarra does in one year,” Mr Harris said.

The report can be accessed via the reports link at www.healthycitiesill.org.au

Further Information
Frank Wallner
Healthy Cities Illawarra 0411 269 461

Frank Harris
ANSTO 0417 231 879

Editors note: An information session for the public is being held tonight (26 February 2003) at 6.30 p.m. at the Warrawong Community Centre, 9 Greene Street Warrawong for any person interested in hearing more details about the findings.