The lack of a centralised waste disposal point for radioactive material from hospitals, dental clinics and other facilities could lead to the use of radioactive substances for "malevolent purposes", the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) has warned.
In its 2006 annual report published yesterday the institute said that successive governments had failed to establish a centralised storage facility to manage disused radioactive sources.
The report also raised concerns over the number of employers prosecuted for failing to comply with a direction to monitor for radon in their workplaces. Some 37 workplaces, four schools and 448 houses were found to have excessive levels of radon last year.
The security and management of sources of radioactive material is increasingly important because of international concern that the materials could be used for "malevolent purposes", the institute said.
Speaking at the launch of the annual report, institute chief executive Dr Ann McGarry said that while the organisation was working with the Garda to address this concern, a centralised storage facility was essential for the long-term security of disused radioactive sources.
Ireland was at odds with best practice internationally as set out in the recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by not having such a facility, she said.
"We have been advising the Government for many years about the need to establish a centralised storage facility for disused radioactive sources. The board of the RPII now considers that a national policy on radioactive waste management is needed to deal comprehensively with the issue, up to and including final disposal."
While radiation sources had many beneficial uses in medicine and industry, it was "of paramount importance" that the safety and security of these sources continued to be ensured after their use came to an end, she said.
Radon continued to be the single largest source of radiation exposure for most people, Dr McGarry said. Some 2,646 households were monitored for radon of which 448 (17 per cent) were found to exceed acceptable levels. In addition, 513 workplaces, including 50 schools, undertook radon measurements. Of these, four schools and 37 workplaces were found to be above the national reference level in one or more rooms.
"During 2006, RPII prosecuted a number of businesses for failing to test for radon after receiving a direction from the RPII. We will continue to use our powers of prosecution if and when we consider it appropriate," she said.
A RPII project conducted in 2006 assessing the various sources of radiation to which the Irish population is exposed, found that, on average, an individual receives a dose from airline travel equivalent to two chest X-rays annually.
