A Radiological Assessment of Scottish Edible Seaweed Consumption

Abstract
Seaweeds are known accumulators of trace elements and edible seaweeds are popular commodities in health food outlets. This particular study covered an area directly affected by discharges from the Dounreay and Sellafield nuclear plants. The results indicate that radionuclide activity levels in Scottish edible seaweeds are low but are marginally high on the north‐west coast than the north‐east. Natural radionuclides are about two orders of magnitude more abundant than those from the nuclear industry. Comparisons were made with Japanese seaweeds: activities were within the same range.