13th Jan 2006 (Radiation Contamination Info) To the right hand side of this photo is the part of the bay/beach where the MOD allegedly left lots of what is believed to be radioactive material after the decommissioning of the Fleet Air Arm Base. Many aircraft and aircraft parts were incinerated back in the 1950s after the war. The radioactive material was of a type of fluorescent paint [radium] used on the dials in aircraft to make them luminous at night.

Finally SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) has agreed to remove some samples of material to check for radioactivity. They are committed to spending £50,000 to investigate and find out the extent of the contamination and as to whether it presents a health risk.

Sepa said that more particles were being detected than they would expect to find beside a nuclear power station.

The half life of the Radium isotope used means that the dials could remain radioactive for a very long period of time.

When Sepa carried out some preliminary investigations here last year they found as many as 90 particles which was more than they found in a similar exercise at Dounreay in the North of Scotland. Previously the authorities had claimed there was nothing to worry about and nothing had been found. Lobbying by local residents, it would seem, has finally got someone to take notice and commence a more thorough search of the area.

It is suggested that if you were to hold some of this radioactive matter in your hands you could sustain some very nasty burns over a period of time and it might be very dangerous if it were ingested or inhaled. This is what Sepa want to investigate further.

The local council are considering installing warning signs as a measure to make local residents and visitors aware of the potential dangers.

Bigger pic? click here.... http://www.mgkscot.com/pieman/pieman's_digital_pic_of_scotland/pages/2005-08-18_radiation_dalgety_bay_radioactive_contamination_lowrez.htm ...

BBC news link here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4610440.stm