WRITTEN QUESTION E-1351/00

by Helmuth Markov (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(4 May 2000)

Subject: Report on radioactive pollution of mineral water by radium 226

According to various reports in the media, there is at present considerable uncertainty amongst the public in Germany concerning high doses of radiation, which are allegedly a health risk, in mineral and table water sold under various brand names because of a high natural occurrence of the isotope radium 226.

1. Is the Commission aware of, or has it carried out, any scientific studies to determine and endeavour to assess the concentration of radioactive substances in food, and in particular to reveal a connection between radiation and an increased risk of cancer?

2. Is the Commission aware that, in contrast to other EU Member States, Germany has no directives or limit values for the concentration of radium 226 in mineral and table water? If so, does the Commission think there is a need to take action in this respect at European level?

3. Is the Commission aware that there are technical means of reducing the content of natural radium 226 in water (filters), but that these may not be used in Germany because of the Mineral and table water regulation? Does the Commission see the need to work towards European rules for the technical processes involved in extracting and producing mineral water?

4. Would the Commission consider extending the food labelling requirement to include radioactive isotopes?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(22 June 2000)

1. Member States have a regular programme for checking levels of radioactivity in the environment, in application of a requirement laid down in Article 35 of the Euratom Treaty. Under Article 36 of the Euratom Treaty the monitoring results are transmitted to the Commission. This includes information on radioactivity in milk, other foodstuffs, surface water and drinking water.

In addition Member States carry out checks on levels of radioactivity in foodstuffs imported from third countries affected by the Chernobyl accident (in application of Council Regulation EEC/737/90 of 22 March 1990(1), recently extended to March 2010)(2).

The Commission's Joint research centre (JRC) Environment Institute, Ispra, has been organising since 1991 annual international intercomparison exercises with the Member States' laboratories providing data under Article 36 of the Euratom Treaty. Amongst others, the exercises covered spring water, mineral water, milk and mixed diet.

The Commission has no information on an observed correlation between levels of radioactivity in foodstuffs and the incidence of cancer.

2. The current drinking water directive, Council Directive 80/778/EEC of 15 July 1980 relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption(3) which covers bottled water that is not natural mineral water (e.g. table water) does not include any specific provision on radioactivity. The new drinking water directive, Council Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998 on the quality of water intended for human consumption(4), which should be implemented by 25 December 2003, does include provisions on radioactivity. These provisions remain to be completed (Annexes II and III of the Directive) as foreseen at the adoption of the Directive on 3 November 1998. It is worth noting that this Directive does not apply to mineral waters.

3. The Commission is aware that the level of radium 226 in tap water and bottled water is affected by the water treatment method, e.g. the removal of iron and manganese will also cause partial transfer of radium to sludges.

Specific treatment in view of removing natural radionuclides from water was the subject of research funded by the Commission under the IVth Framework Programme.

It is worth noting that such techniques are rarely applied to mineral waters for which it is considered important to preserve the mineral content of the water.

4. The labelling of mineral waters normally includes natural radioactive elements (uranium, radium).

(1) OJ L 82, 29.3.1990.

(2) OJ L 75, 24.3.2000.

(3) OJ L 229, 30.8.1980.

(4) OJ L 330, 5.12.1998.