What We Do
Radiological Monitoring
The monitoring of radioactivity in the Orkney Islands was started in 1984. The Marine Environmental Unit has undertaken radiological monitoring on a three-yearly basis on behalf of Orkney Islands Council since 1997.
The Marine Environmental Unit collects samples of winkles and kelp from eleven locations around Orkney:
- Swanbister, Orphir
- Dingieshowe, Deerness
- Birsay
- Yesnaby
- Roeberry, South Ronaldsay
- Brough Ness, South Ronaldsay
- St Mary’s, Holm
- Bay of Ham, Rousay
- Long Geo, Tankerness
- Sea Geo, Burray
- Crockness, Hoy
After collection, the radiological samples are sent to the GAU-Radioanalytical, National Oceanography Centre in Southampton. The samples are then processed and analysed for gamma and alpha emitting radionuclides.
A decreasing trend of anthropogenic (man-made) radioactive materials in samples collected from Orkney have been observed since 2012.