Carbon-14 discharges from the nuclear fuel cycle: 2. Local effects

McCartney, M.; Baxter, M.S.; Scott, E. M.

doi:10.1016/0265-931x(88)90023-9

Cited by 40 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…4). A similar spatial pattern has been reported at other nuclear sites including Chernobyl525. At these sites, the distances influenced by nuclear-derived 14 C were usually limited to tens of kilometres.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Radiocarbon Releases from the 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Accident

Cresswell

Dunbar

et al. 2016

Sci Rep

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Radiocarbon activities were measured in annual tree rings for the years 2009 to 2015 from Japanese cedar trees (Cryptomeria japonica) collected at six sites ranging from 2.5–38 km northwest and north of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. The 14C specific activity varied from 280.4 Bq kg−1 C in 2010 to 226.0 Bq kg−1 C in 2015. The elevated 14C activities in the 2009 and 2010 rings confirmed 14C discharges during routine reactor operations, whereas those activities that were indistinguishable from background in 2012–2015 coincided with the permanent shutdown of the reactors after the accident in 2011. High-resolution 14C analysis of the 2011 ring indicated 14C releases during the Fukushima accident. The resulted 14C activity decreased with increasing distance from the plant. The maximum 14C activity released during the period of the accident was measured 42.4 Bq kg−1 C above the natural ambient 14C background. Our findings indicate that, unlike other Fukushima-derived radionuclides, the 14C released during the accident is indistinguishable from ambient background beyond the local environment (~30 km from the plant). Furthermore, the resulting dose to the local population from the excess 14C activities is negligible compared to the dose from natural/nuclear weapons sources.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Radiocarbon Releases from the 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Accident

Cresswell

Dunbar

et al. 2016

Sci Rep

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“…Atmospheric releases of 14 C from nuclear installations tend to mix rapidly with ambient CO 2 , and elevated concentrations are observed only in close proximity to release sites (McCartney et al, 1988b;Otlet et al, 1990). Hence, it is unlikely that there should be any enhancement of 14 C concentrations on the east coast of Ireland as a result of emissions from Sellafield.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Recent chronologies for tree rings and terrestrial archives using 14C bomb fallout history

McGee

Gallagher

Mitchell

et al. 2004

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

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“…Winkles graze on algae and some intertidal algae such as sea lettuce (which is a known food source for winkles), can utilise atmospheric carbon when exposed to the atmosphere (Murthy et al, 1987). The influence of Sellafield on the atmospheric 14 C activity only extends to around 10 km from the plant, thereafter, the activity is greatly diluted and the general atmospheric activity is relatively constant (McCartney et al, 1988). The 14 C activity of terrestrial vegetation is a good proxy for atmospheric activity and the 14 C activity of a Scottish barley mash (a bi-product of the whisky industry) from 2013, was 229 Bq kg À1 C, significantly lower than the DIC 14 C activity measured at sites remote from Sellafield, such as the Firth of Lorn (298 Bq kg À1 ).…”

Section: Shell 14 Cmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accumulation of Sellafield-derived radiocarbon ( 14 C) in Irish Sea and West of Scotland intertidal shells and sediments

Tierney

Muir

MacKinnon

et al. 2016

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

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The nuclear energy industry produces radioactive waste at various stages of the fuel cycle. In the United Kingdom, spent fuel is reprocessed at the Sellafield facility in Cumbria on the North West coast of England. Waste generated at the site comprises a wide range of radionuclides including radiocarbon ((14)C) which is disposed of in various forms including highly soluble inorganic carbon within the low level liquid radioactive effluent, via pipelines into the Irish Sea. This (14)C is rapidly incorporated into the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) reservoir and marine calcifying organisms, e.g. molluscs, readily utilise DIC for shell formation. This study investigated a number of sites located in Irish Sea and West of Scotland intertidal zones. Results indicate (14)C enrichment above ambient background levels in shell material at least as far as Port Appin, 265 km north of Sellafield. Of the commonly found species (blue mussel (Mytilus edulis), common cockle (Cerastoderma edule) and common periwinkle (Littorina littorea)), mussels were found to be the most highly enriched in (14)C due to the surface environment they inhabit and their feeding behaviour. Whole mussel shell activities appear to have been decreasing in response to reduced discharge activities since the early 2000s but in contrast, there is evidence of continuing enrichment of the carbonate sediment component due to in-situ shell erosion, as well as indications of particle transport of fine (14)C-enriched material close to Sellafield.

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Carbon-14 discharges from the nuclear fuel cycle: 2. Local effects

Cited by 40 publications

References 7 publications

Radiocarbon Releases from the 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Accident

Radiocarbon Releases from the 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Accident

Recent chronologies for tree rings and terrestrial archives using 14C bomb fallout history

Accumulation of Sellafield-derived radiocarbon ( 14 C) in Irish Sea and West of Scotland intertidal shells and sediments

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