Ecosystem uptake and transfer of Sellafield-derived radiocarbon (14C) part 2: The West of Scotland

Ecosystem uptake and transfer of Sellafield-derived radiocarbon (C-14) were examined within the West of Scotland marine environment. The dissolved inorganic carbon component of seawater, enriched in C-14, is transported to the West of Scotland where it is transferred through the marine food web. Benthic and pelagic biota with variable life-spans living in the North Channel and Clyde Sea show comparable C-14 activities. This suggests that mixing of C-14 within the Irish Sea results in a relatively constant northwards dispersal of activity. Benthic species in the Firth of Lorn have similar C-14 enrichments, demonstrating that Irish Sea residual water is the dominant source to this area. Measured C-14 activities in biota show some similarity to western Irish Sea activities, indicating that dispersion to the West of Scotland is significant with respect to the fate of Sellafield C-14 releases. Activities measured in commercially important species do not pose any significant radiological risk. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.