AN area of sand dunes and surrounding land close to the former RAF Kinloss air base is to be probed for potential radioactive and mustard gas contamination.
Work will begin at the dunes in Findhorn on the Moray Firth Coast this month but it is understood the contamination is linked to "glow in the dark" paint used in aircraft from the Second World War.
More than 1000 aircraft are thought to have been dismantled at the Moray base after the war and instruments coated in paint containing radium were burned and buried at the base.
Staff from Moray Council will work with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) in digging test pits where it is believed large numbers of aircraft were broken up and buried. Surveys of the area have detected the presence of material experts believe is worthy of further investigation.
It is believed chemical ordnance containing sulphur mustard or mustard gas may also have been buried.
Moray Council and Sepa said the work was taking place to ensure potential contamination does not pose an unacceptable risk to health, and to determine if any action was required.
Last year the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said a review of the quality of the land at RAF Kinloss was under way, ahead of the transfer of the base to the Army.
The site was one of nine across Scotland being analysed as part of a probe into radioactive contamination at MoD sites.
It also emerged environmental reports prepared for the Ministry of Defence showed authorities have been aware of "potential human health and environmental risks" at Kinloss since 2004.
An MoD spokeswoman said of its review of the base land: "No remediation is currently needed at RAF Kinloss as the potential risk is being appropriately managed."
Environment secretary Richard Lochhead said "There are significant areas of contaminated land, often related to industrial and military sites, across Scotland and Moray is no different. What is important is the authorities show due diligence by investigating sites and taking necessary action."
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