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Radiocarbon Dispersion around Canadian Nuclear Facilities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

G. M. Milton ,
S. J. Kramer ,
R. M. Brown ,
C. J. W. Repta ,
K. J. King  and
R. R. Rao
G. M. Milton
Affiliation:
AECL Research, Chalk River Laboratories, Chalk River, Ontario, Canada, K0J 1J0
S. J. Kramer
Affiliation:
AECL Research, Chalk River Laboratories, Chalk River, Ontario, Canada, K0J 1J0
R. M. Brown
Affiliation:
AECL Research, Chalk River Laboratories, Chalk River, Ontario, Canada, K0J 1J0
C. J. W. Repta
Affiliation:
AECL Research, Chalk River Laboratories, Chalk River, Ontario, Canada, K0J 1J0
K. J. King
Affiliation:
AECL Research, Chalk River Laboratories, Chalk River, Ontario, Canada, K0J 1J0
R. R. Rao
Affiliation:
AECL Research, Chalk River Laboratories, Chalk River, Ontario, Canada, K0J 1J0
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Abstract

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Canadian deuterium uranium (CANDU) pressurized heavy-water reactors produce 14C by neutron activation of trace quantities of nitrogen in annular gas and reactor components (14N(n,p)14C), and from 17O in the heavy water moderator by (17O(n,α)14C). The radiocarbon produced in the moderator is removed on ion exchange resins incorporated in the water purification systems; however, a much smaller gaseous portion is vented from reactor stacks at activity levels considerably below 1% of permissible derived emission limits. Early measurements of the carbon speciation indicated that >90% of the 14C emitted was in the form of CO2. We conducted surveys of the atmospheric dispersion of 14CO2 at the Chalk River Laboratories and at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station. We analyzed air, vegetation, soils and tree rings to add to the historical record of 14C emissions at these sites, and to gain an understanding of the relative importance of the various carbon pools that act as sources/sinks within the total 14C budget. Better model parameters than those currently available for calculating the dose to the critical group can be obtained in this manner. Global dose estimates may require the development of techniques for estimating emissions occurring outside the growing season.

Type
IV. 14C as a Tracer of the Dynamic Carbon Cycle in the Current Environment
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 37 , Issue 2 , 1995 , pp. 485 - 496
Copyright
Copyright © the Department of Geosciences, The University of Arizona 

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