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Museum guilty over radioactive rocksLONDON, England -- One of the UK's top museums has been given a conditional discharge for displaying radioactive rocks. London Blackfriars Crown Court heard that rocks on display at the National History Museum contained radiation 60 times the level they should have been. The museum's 12 trustees admitted one breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act and two of the Ionising Radiation Regulations between January 1990 and October 1999. Judge John Samuels QC, passing sentence on Friday, said he was satisfied that it was highly probable that no-one's health had been adversely affected. Readings had shown some of the exhibits had a radiation level of 60 microsieverts -- as against the museum's benchmark figure of one. But the judge said it was important to look at the case in its "proper" context. The museum, described as a "centre of excellence" with a world class reputation, had taken its responsibilities in connection with the case extremely seriously. He said the museum had an unrivalled reputation in the scientific field and all other respects, and had been tarnished by convictions in this case. "In my judgment, justice will be done if I impose a conditional discharge for one year." Defence QC Malcolm Fortune said the museum wanted to make it clear that everything had been done to resolve the situation and there was absolutely no reason for any visitor or employee to be concerned. "We accept the concerns of the Health and Safety Executive... but the limits (of radiation) that members of the public may have been or were exposed to were low, but not as low as reasonably practicable. "We are not dealing with something as emotive as Chernobyl." He said the museum realised they had "fallen short" of what was required of them "but not substantially short," he added. RELATED SITES:
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