IRISH people are more at risk from natural radiation such as radon than emissions from Sellafield, according to a report presented last night.
The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland said it was safe to swim off the east coast and eat seafood from the Irish Sea, despite higher radioactive levels, compared to the west coast.
It estimates that a heavy seafood consumer on the east coast would be exposed to about two micro Sieverts in a year compared to typical overall background levels of 3,000 micro Sieverts from natural occurring radiation such as radon.
However, Dr Brian O'Herlihy, Director of Public Health for the Eastern Health Board, told a meeting last night that it was "clearly objectionable that contamination of our marine environment should continue to result from the planned operation of nuclear installations".