Radioecological studies on the Elbe

The effluents from nuclear power plants situated on the banks of the Elbe (Stade, Brokdorf, Kruemmel) has not contributed to any measurable degree to an increase in the environmental radioactivity. In the upper Elbe regions, such incrases have chiefly been attributable to fallout from nuclear weapons and, in recent years, radioactive fallout of the Chernobyl power plant. In the lower Elbe, brackish waters and estuary, however, the effect of added radioactivity from the nuclear reprocessing plants of Sellafield and La Hague is making itself evident. This was confirmed by large-scale studies using water, fish, sestone and sediment samples that were examined for their individual contents of radioactivity. If one considers the degree of exposure to naturally occurring radioactivity, radioactive exposure of the population on account of nuclear power stations must be judged as being within the negligible range. (DG)