Research and analysis

Transport of radioactive materials: UK incidents 2006

This report (HPA-RPD-034) describes accidents and incidents involving transport of radioactive materials to, from, or within the UK in 2006.

Documents

HPA-RPD-034: radiological consequences resulting from accidents and incidents involving the transport of radioactive materials in the UK - 2006 review

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Details

During 2006 there were 27 accidents and incidents, involving the transport of radioactive materials from, to, or within the UK. The number of events in earlier years were:

  • 16 in 2005
  • 20 in 2004
  • 11 in 2003
  • 29 in 2002.

This increase compared to the previous 3 years is likely to represent mainly a statistical variation in the annual number of events, rather than indicating an overall upward trend. In 2006 there were an unusual number of events (6) involving the discovery of radioactive material in supposedly non-radioactive shipments, including 2 instances of materials sent illegally using the postal services. However, none of the events in 2006 resulted in any significant radiation doses to workers or members of the public.

These events have been entered into the Radioactive Material Transport Event Database (RAMTED).

Published 1 December 2007