Current COMARE Work Programme (2011)
COMARE PUBLICATIONS IN PROGRESS:
Childhood leukaemia in the vicinity of Sellafield and Dounreay
COMARE will be kept up to date on the surveillance and review of the incidence of childhood leukaemia and other cancers in the vicinity of Sellafield and of Dounreay, in accordance with recommendation 5 of the 11th report. A subgroup has been established to review the current update on this work, commissioned by the Department of Health. It is anticipated that this review will be published as a COMARE report.
Radiation Dose
COMARE has been asked by the Department of Health to produce advice on issues concerning radiation doses from CT scanners in the UK. A subcommittee has been established to respond to this request. It is anticipated that this advice will be published as a report from COMARE. A secondary request was made concerning the radiation doses from interventional radiology. This will be investigated separately, on the completion of the CT radiation dose report.
WORKING GROUPS:
Sellafield
The Sellafield Working Group (SWG) will be kept up to date on matters, relating to the contamination detected on the beaches near to Sellafield. The Secretariat will liaise with the Environment Agency and update the committee as and when further information is available. A site visit by the working group was organised on 6th October 2008. The fifth working group meeting was held on 4th October 2011.
Dounreay
The Dounreay Working Group (DWG) will continue to review progress on the isolation of the Dounreay shaft, the remediation of the old diffuser and the solutions proposed for the remaining particles in the general environment.
Authorisations
COMARE has a standing commitment to advise on authorised discharges of radioactive materials as and when new or revised authorisations are produced. The Authorisation Working Group (AWG) advises on draft authorisations and keeps the full committee aware of its proceedings.
REQUESTS FOR ADVICE:
Sun exposure and Vitamin D
COMARE has been asked to produce a statement for the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition as part of their review of vitamin D. COMARE will consider the risks associated with sun exposure, based on data provided by the Health Protection Agency.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS UNDER CONSIDERATION BY THE COMMITTEE:
Dalgety Bay
The appearance of radium particles at Dalgety Bay first came on the committee’s work programme back in 1991. The discovery of further particles during monitoring in 2006 saw this item reappear for further consideration. A site visit by members of the Dounreay Working Group was carried out on 13th May 2008. The committee is kept aware of the latest developments through liaison with SEPA and the MoD. The committee will also be kept aware of other similar contaminated sites as and when issues arise.
Radon
COMARE will be kept aware of the progress of the policy on "Radon in homes". Any new epidemiological or dosimetric data will be brought to the attention of the committee so it may consider the current risk estimates from radon in the home in the light of these new data.
Electromagnetic Fields
COMARE will be kept up to date on studies of the possible health effects of electro-magnetic fields. The Secretariat will bring appropriate information before the committee, as it becomes available. Given the current public and political interest in this area, updates on the current situation will be given at appropriate meetings. The last update was given by the HPA at the July 2011 meeting.
SAHSU
COMARE has a standing commitment to consider any epidemiology studies involving radiation issues reported by the Small Area Health Statistics Unit (SAHSU). No SAHSU reports on radiation issues were received in 2010 or 2011.
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