Madam, - At a special meeting of Louth County Council, representatives from British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. (BNLF) stated that Sellafield stopped handling radioactive iodine-131 some years ago and that stable iodine tablets would be useless in the event of a nuclear incident at Sellafield (Irish Times, March 27th).
It was reported that our Department of Health is prepared to consider the recalling of the stable iodine tablets issued nationwide in 2002 as a safety measure.
It is important to realise that other UK organisations in addition to BNFL have nuclear plants. In particular, nuclear reactors used for electricity generation are located at Wylfa, north of Holyhead in Wales just sixty miles from Dublin. The reactors at Wylfa will contain a large quantity of radioactive iodine-131. There is thus a possibility of a release of radioactive iodine-131 should any incident occur in Wales. So, it is important that prudence should prevail in contemplating any recall of stable iodine tablets from homes while there are operational nuclear power stations close to Ireland. - Yours, etc.,
DAVID J. MURNAGHAN, Drumcondra, Dublin 9.