It is also the source of around 90% of the discharge of technetium-99, a long-lived radionuclide that lingers in shellfish.

ECONOMIST: Nuclear energy

Last month the UK Government asked British Nuclear Fuels to impose a nine-month ban on emissions of low level Technetium from Sellafield.

BBC: Low level radiation in salmon

This would have the advantage of ending the production of radioactive waste, which must be stored, and of stopping the flushing of technetium-99, a new waste by-product of reprocessing, into the Irish Sea, which would please the Irish government.

ECONOMIST: The nuclear industry