Göran Skog
Senior lecturer
C-14 content in vegetation in the vicinities of Brazilian nuclear power reactors
Author
Summary, in English
Abstract in Undetermined
C-14 specific activities were measured in grass samples collected around Brazilian nuclear power reactors. The specific activity values varied between 227 and 299 Bq/kg C. Except for two samples which showed C-14 specific activities 22% above background values, half of the samples showed background specific activities, and the other half had a C-14 excess of 1-18%. The highest specific activities were found close to the nuclear power plants and along the main wind directions (NE and NNE). The activity values were found to decrease with increasing distance from the reactors. The unexpectedly high C-14 excess values found in two samples were related to the local topography, which favors C-14 accumulation and limits the dispersion of the plume. The results indicate a clear C-14 anthropogenic signal within 5 km around the nuclear power plants which is most prominent along northeastwards, the prevailing wind direction.
C-14 specific activities were measured in grass samples collected around Brazilian nuclear power reactors. The specific activity values varied between 227 and 299 Bq/kg C. Except for two samples which showed C-14 specific activities 22% above background values, half of the samples showed background specific activities, and the other half had a C-14 excess of 1-18%. The highest specific activities were found close to the nuclear power plants and along the main wind directions (NE and NNE). The activity values were found to decrease with increasing distance from the reactors. The unexpectedly high C-14 excess values found in two samples were related to the local topography, which favors C-14 accumulation and limits the dispersion of the plume. The results indicate a clear C-14 anthropogenic signal within 5 km around the nuclear power plants which is most prominent along northeastwards, the prevailing wind direction.
Department/s
- Nuclear physics
- Quaternary Sciences
Publishing year
2008
Language
English
Pages
1095-1101
Publication/Series
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
Volume
99
Issue
7
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Elsevier
Topic
- Environmental Sciences
Keywords
- carbon-14
- Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR)
- vegetation
- Brazil
- environmental monitoring
Status
Published
Research group
- AMS, Nuclear Physics
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1879-1700