Greta Jimenez
The Irish Sea, a body of water that separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain, has been the subject of pollution concerns. While the sea is of significant economic importance for trade, shipping, transport, fishing, and power generation, it has also been used for the disposal of toxic items, including plastics, munitions, radiation waste, and sewage. In the past, the dumping of military and commercial waste in the North Channel was a concern, and while this practice ended in the 1980s, the legacy of radioactive contamination remains. Greenpeace has reported higher levels of radioactive plutonium in the sediments off the Sellafield plant in the Irish Sea compared to a Russian nuclear weapons test site. Despite some improvements in bathing water quality, the complex issue of pollution in the Irish Sea continues to be a focus of environmental concern.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Area | 46,007 km2 (17,763 sq mi) |
| Width | 200 km (120 mi) at its greatest, narrowing to 75 km (47 mi) |
| Connection | North Atlantic at both its northern and southern ends |
| Pollution | Plastics, munitions, radiation waste, domestic and commercial sewage |
| Radioactivity | Radioactive plutonium in the sediments off the Sellafield plant |
| Water Quality | Majority of Ireland's bathing waters have excellent or good water quality |
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What You'll Learn
Plastics pollution
Manx Radio has reported on plastics pollution in the Irish Sea, highlighting the complex nature of the pollution issue. The sea has been used for the disposal of toxic items such as munitions, radiation waste, and domestic and commercial sewage. While some sources indicate that the situation has improved since the 1980s, the dumping of radioactive waste remains a concern. For instance, in the early 2000s, radioactive waste from Sellafield was still being disposed of in the Irish Sea, and in 2018, millions of tonnes of toxic sludge from the Hinkley Point nuclear site were dumped in the Bristol Channel, potentially contaminating the northern part of the Celtic Sea and the South Irish Sea.
The impact of plastic pollution in the Irish Sea is evident in the high levels of radioactivity detected in fish, seaweed, and shore sand. Greenpeace's survey of the Irish Sea found high levels of caesium and plutonium in sediment taken near a Sellafield waste-discharge pipe off the Cumbrian coast. The levels of caesium were measured at 1.2 and 2.3 million becquerels per kilogram of sediment, while plutonium levels reached 35,554 becquerels per kilogram.
The Irish government has taken steps to address pollution and improve water quality. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that the majority of Ireland's bathing waters have excellent or good water quality. Local authorities have implemented management plans and put up warning notices to advise swimmers about potential short-term pollution events, typically lasting only a few days, due to heavy rainfall. These warnings are removed once sampling shows that the water quality is safe again.
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Radioactive waste disposal
Historically, the British government authorised the disposal of low-level radioactive waste from private companies and defence contractors into the Irish Sea during the 1950s and 1960s. This was often done secretly, and the full extent of the dumping has yet to be fully investigated. The disposal of radioactive waste from Sellafield has been a particular concern, with discharges accelerating in the 1960s and reaching a peak in the 1970s. While discharges have significantly declined since then due to improved waste treatment, the legacy of contamination will last for tens of thousands of years.
The consumption of seafood harvested from the Irish Sea is the primary pathway for human exposure to radioactivity. While the risk of contracting cancer in Ireland is generally 1 in 522, heavy seafood consumers in the country received a radioactive dosage in 2005 that contributed to a 1 in 18 million chance of developing cancer. However, it is important to note that the levels of artificial radioactivity measured in the Irish Sea are not considered to have significant health effects on the public, whether through sailing, swimming, diving, or consuming seafood.
International efforts to address radioactive waste disposal have been made. The first United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1958 resulted in an agreement among states to actively prevent radioactive waste pollution in the sea and follow international guidelines. The London Convention of 1972 aimed to control and prevent marine pollution, including banning the dumping of high-level radioactive waste. While the London Convention initially allowed for sub-seabed disposal, this option is now prohibited, and the agreement has been updated to ban all materials from marine dumping except for a thoroughly researched list of certain wastes.
The disposal of radioactive waste is a complex issue that requires careful monitoring and regulation to minimise its impact on the environment and human health. While efforts have been made to reduce and prohibit radioactive waste disposal in the Irish Sea and globally, the long-lasting effects of contamination remain a concern.
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Sewage and septic tank discharge
The Irish Sea has been used for the disposal of toxic items, including munitions, radiation waste, and domestic and commercial sewage. Sewage and septic tank discharge has been a significant source of pollution in the Irish Sea, impacting the water quality of nearby beaches.
Trá na mBan in County Galway, for example, has been affected by the Spiddal sewer network, agricultural runoff, and septic tank discharges. Local authorities have implemented management plans to address these pollution sources, and the beach's water quality has improved from poor in 2019 to excellent in 2022.
The Irish Sea has also been affected by radioactive waste disposal from sites like Sellafield. In 1956, the rate of radioactive discharge from Sellafield was deliberately increased, resulting in detectable levels of radioactivity in fish, seaweed, and shore sand. This has had long-lasting effects, with Greenpeace finding higher levels of radioactive plutonium in the sediments off the Sellafield plant in the Irish Sea than at the Russian Novaya Zemlya nuclear weapons test site.
To protect the health of swimmers and the environment, local authorities in Ireland have implemented measures such as "Prior Warning" notices to advise the public about possible short-term pollution events, typically lasting only a few days due to heavy rainfall. These warnings are removed once sampling shows that the water quality is safe again.
While there have been improvements in recent decades, the legacy of radioactive contamination in the Irish Sea will persist for tens of thousands of years. Ongoing efforts are needed to address the various forms of pollution affecting this body of water.
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Stormwater overflow
However, stormwater overflows can also contribute to poor water quality, particularly after heavy rainfall. This is because wastewater and stormwater are often conveyed through a single pipe in combined sewer systems, which are prevalent in many urban areas of Ireland and older homes and businesses in Northern Ireland. When the capacity of these pipes is exceeded during heavy rainfall, it can result in untreated discharges, including sewage, reaching rivers and other natural water sources through stormwater overflows (SWOs).
The issue of stormwater overflows is further exacerbated by the lack of sustainable drainage in Ireland. Changing weather patterns due to climate change will place significant stress on drainage systems, as the number of heavy rainfall days per year is projected to increase. This will likely result in more frequent overflows and untreated discharges, impacting water quality and potentially affecting human health, as SWOs are a source of microbial pathogens.
To address the challenges posed by stormwater overflows, it is essential to implement solution-based policies and improve leadership and regulations governing stormwater discharge management. Additionally, investing in separate drainage systems for modern property developments can help mitigate the issue. These separate systems ensure that foul water from kitchens and bathrooms goes to the wastewater system, while rainwater is directed to a separate storm drain, reducing the burden on combined sewer systems and minimising the risk of overflows.
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Short-term pollution
The Irish Sea has been used for the disposal of toxic items, including munitions, radiation waste, and domestic and commercial sewage. In 1986, a conference in Liverpool discussed the varying forms of pollution in the Irish and Celtic seas. Since then, there have been improvements, but pollution remains a complex issue.
Radioactive waste disposal from Sellafield has contaminated the Irish Sea, with higher levels of radioactive plutonium in the sediments than at the Russian Novaya Zemlya nuclear weapons test site. Greenpeace has measured radioactive contamination in sediments and seaweed, finding high levels of caesium and plutonium. The UK has also been accused of dumping radioactive waste off the coast of South Wales.
In addition to radioactive waste, plastic pollution is a concern in the Irish Sea. Plastic pollution can have detrimental effects on marine life and the environment. Local authorities have put up "Prior Warning" notices at beaches to warn swimmers about possible short-term pollution events, typically lasting only a few days due to heavy rainfall. These warnings are removed once sampling shows the water quality is safe again.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Irish Sea is polluted. Plastic pollution and the disposal of toxic items, such as munitions, radiation waste, and sewage, have all contributed to the pollution of the Irish Sea.
Local authorities have put up "Prior Warning" notices to warn swimmers of potential short-term pollution events, which usually last only a few days. These warnings are removed when sampling shows the water quality is safe again.
Radioactive waste disposal is one of the biggest contributors to the pollution in the Irish Sea. Greenpeace has found that there are higher levels of radioactive plutonium in the sediments off the Sellafield plant in the Irish Sea than at the underwater Russian Novaya Zemlya nuclear weapons test site.
