Is Aberdeen one of the world’s most radioactive cities? It’s a question sometimes asked by residents of the Granite City thanks to the uranium-rich stone the city is largely built with — and named after. So, to find out whether the northern lights of old Aberdeen are the celestial occurrence we’ve been told they are or in fact the glow from irradiated locals I embarked on a quest. Armed with a cheap Geiger counter from Amazon, and input from people who know a lot more about radiation than I do, I set out to tackle the urban legend and answer once and for all — how radioactive is Aberdeen? From Westminster to the streets of Aberdeen In 1979, then-Secretary of State for Scotland Harry Ewing was asked in Parliament about the “radioactive intensity” of Union Street’s granite buildings.
, the official transcript of parliamentary debates, Mr Ewing revealed that the background level of radiation in Aberdeen stood at about 150 millirems per year. That’s a whole 50% higher than the UK average. Here, then, is the first stage of my quest.
If it’s radiation I’m looking for, my best bet will be Aberdeen’s many granite buildings. My first stop is Marischal College, partly because it’s one of the biggest granite buildings in Aberdeen, but mainly because it’s right next to my office. As tourists crisscross Broad Street snapping photos, I whip out my Geiger counter and take a few readings.
I’m no scientist — I’m sure that’s obvious by now — but did have t.