A CASE in which a radioactive source was dumped in a landfill site highlights the need for a national waste facility, the Radiological Protection Institute says in its annual report for 1995.
The source was a disused density gauge mounted on the side of a chute in an animal feed processing factory. The gauge became detached, falling into and blocking the chute, from which it was removed and disposed of by an operative who did not realise it contained radioactive material.
The institute subsequently inspected dumps in the area but found no unusual radioactive levels and concluded further searches were impractical.
Because of the incident, the report says, licensees are now required to carry out regular checks on disused gauges and are encouraged to return them to the suppliers where possible.
However, the incident highlighted the institute's inability to take possession of such equipment because it had nowhere to dispose of it. The institute's chairwoman, Ms Mary Upton, said this was a "serious deficiency" in Ireland's provisions for protecting the public from radiation hazards.
The report expresses satisfaction with the progress of a national survey of radon gas in dwellings, but regrets that few of the householders affected have followed the institute's advice about carrying out remedial work.
Hundreds of people have been advised to undertake measures to reduce radon levels in their houses because of the increased risk of lung cancer associated with the gas. However, while increasing numbers of companies were offering radon remedial work, few householders were willing to meet the expense.
The report recommends Government grant assistance for the work.
During 1995, the RPI intervened to stop a hospital using mobile X ray equipment in an operating theatre which was unsuitable for radiography, five years after the hospital had been told by its radiation adviser that there was inadequate protection for persons outside the theatre.
There was no evidence that anyone had been exposed to dangerous levels of radiation as a result, but the hospital was severely censured.
In a separate investigation, a company was warned for failing to block public access to a waste store which contained low level radioactive dust. The institute decided against a prosecution because nobody had been exposed to hazardous doses through entering the store.
Also in 1995, the institute successfully prosecuted a dentist for having an unlicensed X ray machine. The dentist was fined and ordered to pay costs of "several hundred pounds", after ignoring a number of reminders to apply for a licence.
