The UK Ministry of Defence is facing criticism following reports that it allegedly covered up a radioactive leak from a nuclear warhead storage facility in Scotland. According to documents obtained by a Scottish media outlet and The Guardian newspaper, radioactive water has been leaking into the sea from a military base near Coulport for years. The documents, which the Ministry of Defence and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) reportedly tried to keep secret, were ordered to be made public by a Scottish Information Commissioner.
The leak is attributed to repeated bursts in old pipes at the base, which stores nuclear warheads for the country’s Trident submarines. The leaked water was found to be contaminated with radioactive tritium. While SEPA stated the radioactivity levels were low and did not endanger human health, the reports highlight a significant failure in maintenance and a lack of proper asset management by the British navy. This has raised concerns about the handling of nuclear waste and safety standards at military facilities.
Sources:
Radioactive water from UK nuclear bomb base leaked into sea, files show
Radioactive Water & Tritium Release: What Official Files Reveal About UK’s Botched Handing of Nuclear Waste
