WRITTEN QUESTION E-1961/98

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(30 June 1998)

Subject: Danger of radioactivity in the Alps

Twelve years after the explosion of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, the radioactive fallout that affected Europe is once again giving cause for concern in view of its persistence in certain Alpine regions.

The Committee for Independent Research and Information on Radioactivity (CRII-Rad) has referred to "alarming" levels of radioactivity at various Alpine sites, not only on the French side but also in the Italian, Swiss and Austrian Alps. According to Corinne Castanier, CRII-Rad spokesman, in the case of 40 samples taken from various Alpine areas, at altitudes varying from 1 500 to 2 800 meters, caesium 137 levels of hundreds of thousands of bequerels per kilo were recorded. The most contaminated samples were taken from Cortina d'Ampezzo, Mount Cervino, the Mercantour (French Alps) and Hohe Tauern (Austrian Alps). The latest European directive, which will enter into force in 2000, classifies a sample registering 10 000 bequerels as radioactive. These samples, therefore, are well above the danger level. The samples examined also yielded other radioactive isotopes such as americium 241 and plutonium 238, 239 and 240, but at much lower concentrations, of the order of several hundred bequerels.

In view of public concern about the danger of radioactive contamination in the Alps, would the Commission state whether it is aware of the problem and if it considers that it would be appropriate to urge the Member States to investigate further and, as an immediate step, take any measures necessary to protect the health of the citizens concerned? Let us not be taken in by inane comments such as the following: "If a camper slept at the most contaminated site, he would receive a dose of radioactivity equivalent to a chest X-ray". Why should someone who does not need one be subjected to a chest X-ray?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(15 September 1998)

The Commission is aware of the presence of caesium (Cs)-137 contamination at relatively elevated levels in parts of the Alps. Its understanding is that the competent authorities have considered the degree of risk associated with these levels and have decided that no constraints are necessary other than those already existing.

The exemption values laid down in Directive 96/29/Euratom laying down basic safety standards for the health protection of the general public and workers against the dangers of ionizing radiation(1), which enters into force in May 2000, pertain to the requirement for reporting of practices involving radioactive substances. A practice will not need to be reported if either the total amount of radioactivity or the activity concentration per unit mass does not exceed the corresponding exemption value. For caesium-137 the exempt total activity value is 10 000 becquerel and the exempt activity concentration value is 10 000 becquerel per kilogram.

Thus under the terms of the Directive, the holding or processing of environmental samples exceeding these values will need to be reported to the national authority.

(1) OJ L 150, 29.6.1996.