Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-x24gv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-16T04:32:51.729Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Global and Local Effects of 14C Discharges from the Nuclear Fuel Cycle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Martin McCartney ,
M S Baxter ,
Keith McKay  and
E Marian Scott
Martin McCartney
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland
M S Baxter
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland
Keith McKay
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland
E Marian Scott
Affiliation:
Department of Statistics, University of Glasgow
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The radiologic impact of 14C produced by the nuclear fuel cycle is assessed at both global and local levels. In the former context, it is predicted here that the specific activity of atmospheric CO2 in the year 2050 will be ca 7.6 pCig-1 C. Although this is similar to the present level, the subsequent collective dose commitment could be highly significant.

The enhancement of 14C concentrations around the nuclear fuel-reprocessing plant at Sellafield (Windscale) in Cumbria, U K has been monitored over recent years. For example, maximum levels of 27.2 pCig-1C (∼350% above natural) during 1984 were observed < 1 km from the plant, with enhanced activities detectable to at least 29km. Nevertheless, it is clear that the radiologic significance to the local population is low. The spatial distribution of the excess 14C allows atmospheric dispersion models to be tested in the context of continuous releases and the results thus far show that the Gaussian plume model performs successfully.

Type
VI. Anthropogenic Variations
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 28 , Issue 2A , 1986 , pp. 634 - 643
Copyright
Copyright © The American Journal of Science 

References

Baxter, M S and Walton, A, 1970, A theoretical approach to the Suess effect: Royal Soc London Proc, ser A, v 318, p 213–230.Google Scholar
Beninson, D and Gonzalez, A J, 1982, Application of the dose limitation system to the control of carbon-14 releases from heavy-water-moderated reactors, in The dose limitation system in the nuclear fuel cycle and in radiation protection: IAEA symposium (STI-PUB-599), Proc, Vienna (IAEA), p 3–20.Google Scholar
British Nuclear Fuels plc, 1982, Annual report on radioactive discharges and monitoring of the environment 1981: BNFL, Health and Safety Directorate rept, 85 p.Google Scholar
British Nuclear Fuels plc, 1983, Annual report on radioactive discharges and monitoring of the environment 1982: BNFL, Health and Safety Directorate rept, 83 p.Google Scholar
British Nuclear Fuels plc, 1984, Annual report on radioactive discharges and monitoring of the environment 1983: BNFL, Health and Safety Directorate rept, 87 p.Google Scholar
Bush, R P, White, I F and Smith, G M, 1983, Carbon-14 waste management: U K Atomic Energy Research Establishment rept, Harwell, AERE R10543.Google Scholar
Campbell, J A and Baxter, M S, 1979, Glasgow University radiocarbon measurements IX: Radiocarbon, v 21, p 171–179.Google Scholar
Clark, R H, 1979, A model for short and medium range dispersion of radionuclides released to the atmosphere: Natl Radiol Protection Bd rept, NRPB-R91, 73 p.Google Scholar
Damon, P E, Long, A and Grey, D C, 1966, Fluctuation of atmospheric 14C during the last six millenia: Jour Geophys Research, v 71, p 1055–1063.Google Scholar
Edmonds, J and Reilly, J, 1983, Global energy production and use to the year 2050: Energy, v 8, no. 6, p 419–432.Google Scholar
Edmonds, J A, Reilly, J, Trabalka, J R and Reichle, D E, 1984, An analysis of possible future atmospheric retention of fossil fuel CO2 : TR013 DOE/OR/21400-1, U S Dept Energy, 109 p.Google Scholar
Emanuel, W R, Killough, G G, Stevenson, M P, Post, W M and Shugart, H H, 1984, Computer implementation of a globally averaged model of the world carbon cycle: U S Dept Energy tech rept ser, TR010. Natl Tech Inf Service, Springfield, Virginia.Google Scholar
Hafele, W, 1982, Energy in a finite world: A global systems analysis: Rept Internatl Inst Applied Systems Analysis, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Ballinger Pub Co, 837 p.Google Scholar
Houtermans, J, Suess, H E and Munk, W, 1967, Effect of industrial fuel combustion on the carbon-14 level of atmospheric CO2 in radioactive dating and methods of low-level counting: IAEA symposium, Proc, Vienna, p 57–68.Google Scholar
International Commission on Radiological Protection, 1973, Implications of commission recommendations that doses be kept as low as readily achievable: Rept Committee 4 ICRP, ICRP Pub no. 22, Oxford, Pergamon Press.Google Scholar
International Commission on Radiological Protection, 1976, Recommendations of the ICRP: Pub no. 26, Oxford, Pergamon Press.Google Scholar
International Commission on Radiological Protection, 1979, Limits for intakes of radionuclides by workers: ICRP pub no. 30, Oxford, Pergamon Press.Google Scholar
Karlen, J, Olsson, I U, Kallberg, P and Kilicci, S, 1964, Absolute determination of the activity of C dating standards: Archives Geofysik, v 4, p 465–471.Google Scholar
Kelly, G N, Jones, J A, Bryant, P M and Morley, F, 1975, The predicted radiation exposure of the population of the European community resulting from discharges of krypton-85, tritium, carbon-14 and iodine-1 29 from the nuclear power industry to the year 2000: Comm European Communities, Luxembourg DOC V/2576/75, 87 p.Google Scholar
Killough, G G, 1980, A dynamic model for estimating radiation dose to the world population from releases of 14C to the atmosphere: Health Physics, v 38, p 269–300.Google Scholar
Killough, G G and Rohwer, P S, 1978, A new look at the dosimetry of 14C released to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide: Health Physics, v 34, p 141–159.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Magno, P J, Nelson, C B and Ellett, W H, 1974, A consideration of the significance of carbon-14 discharges from the nuclear power industry, in First, M W, ed, AEC air cleaning conf, 13th, Proc: p 1047–1055.Google Scholar
Nydal, R, 1968, Further investigation on the transfer of radiocarbon in nature: Jour Geophys Research, v 73, p 3617–3635.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Oeschger, H, Siengenthaler, U, Schotterer, U and Gugelman, A, 1975, A box-diffusion model to study the carbon dioxide exhange in nature: Tellus, v 27, p 168–192.Google Scholar
Otlet, R L, Walker, A J and Longley, H, 1983, The use of 14C in natural materials to establish the average gaseous dispersion patterns of releases from nuclear installations, in Stuiver, M and Kra, R S, eds, Internatl 14C conf, 11th, Proc: Radiocarbon, v 25, no. 2, p 593–602.Google Scholar
Schwibach, J, Riedel, H and Bretschneider, J, 1978, Investigations into the emission of carbon-14 compounds from nuclear facilities: Comm European Communities, Luxembourg, v - 3062/78-EN, 188 p.Google Scholar
Suess, H E, 1955, Radiocarbon concentration in modern wood: Science, v 122, p 415–417.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Suess, H E and Stuiver, M, 1966, On the relationship between radiocarbon dates and true ages: Radiocarbon, v 8, p 534–540.Google Scholar
Thommeret, J, Thommeret, Y and Baxter, M S, 1983, The recent 14C record in the Mediterranean atmosphere and sea: Jour Recherche Atmos, v 17, p 171–189.Google Scholar
United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, 1982, Exposures resulting from nuclear power production: Annex F, UNSCEAR 1982 rept to the General Assembly, New York, 162 p.Google Scholar
Vries, de H L, 1958, Variation in concentration of radiocarbon with time and location on earth: Koninkl Nederlandse Akad Wetensch, Proc, v B61, p 94–102.Google Scholar
Young, J A and Fairhall, A W, 1968, Radiocarbon from nuclear weapon tests: Jour Geophys Research, v 73, p 1185–1200.Google Scholar