Summary of Environmental Radiation Monitoring in Hong Kong 2005 ( Abstract )

As the Environmental Radiation Monitoring Programme entered its nineteenth year in 2005, the monitoring work by the Hong Kong Observatory has become well established. This annual report incorporates only salient features of the programme during 2005, including summaries of measurement method and results, highlights of new work, changes and new measures introduced.

The ambient radiation levels in Hong Kong in 2005 as measured by the Observatory radiation monitoring network were within the normal background range. As in the past years, traces of artificial radionuclides, namely caesium-137, tritium, strontium-90 and plutonium-239, were detected in various environmental and food samples. The levels of all these radionuclides were not significantly different from those recorded before the Guangdong Nuclear Power Station and Lingao Nuclear Power Station came into operation. Their existence could be attributed to atmospheric nuclear weapon tests from 1945 to 1980.

Based on the results, it is concluded that there was no measurable increase in 2005 in ambient radiation levels and artificial radionuclides in the Hong Kong environment and foodstuffs consumed by Hong Kong people, compared with those before the operation of the nuclear power stations.

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