Annual Variations of 14C Concentration in the Tree Rings in the Vicinity of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant

Radiocarbon ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 1227-1236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Žilvinas Ežerinskis ◽  
Justina Šapolaitė ◽  
Algirdas Pabedinskas ◽  
Laurynas Juodis ◽  
Andrius Garbaras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Tree Rings ◽  
Environmental Samples ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Time Span ◽  
Annual Variations ◽  
Pine Tree ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Concentration Changes

ABSTRACTIn this paper we analyze the radiocarbon (14C) concentration changes over the whole operational period of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP) including the post-shutdown decommissioning. Environmental samples from the vicinity of the INPP and a rural area as background of pine tree rings were analyzed with the single stage accelerator mass spectrometer (SSAMS). The analysis shows the local influence of the INPP from 3 to 7 pMC. The whole time span from 1983 to 2015 is divided into three periods representing the early and late operational and post-shutdown stages of the INPP with different 14C profiles in analyzed samples. The influence of the maintenance of the INPP and radioactive waste management activities are indicated and discussed.

Measurement of 129I Level Around a Nuclear Power Plant by Accelerator Mass Spectrometer

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiwen Wang ◽  
Huaibin Li ◽  
Chaohui He ◽  
Yaolin Zhao ◽  
Ning Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Environmental Samples ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Power Plants ◽  
Processing System ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Seawater Samples

129I is a long-lived (15.7M year) radioisotope of iodine. It can be used as a tracer for monitoring nuclear proliferation and the 129I/127I ratio can be used to evaluate the radiation contamination level. Nowadays a great number of nuclear power plants will be built in China, but the data of 129I concentration in environmental samples around nuclear power plants are limited. Accelerator Mass Spectrometer (AMS) whose detection limit is about 10−14, is one of the best instruments for analyzing environmental samples. The methods of making 129I target samples for AMS measurement from different type samples were studied, and the processing system for water and soil samples were established. Six surface seawater samples were collected at different distance away from a nuclear power plant in China. These samples were measured by Xi’an AMS. The ratios of 129I/127I in the seawater samples are between 0.829 × 10−10 and 9.451 × 10−10, and the average value is about 3.518 × 10−10. The ratios of 129I/127I in these samples are compared with other measurement results under different circumstances in other parts of the world. The results show that this nuclear power plant has not released superfluous 129I into environment after several years’ operation. Since the AMS and sample processing system are established, we will do much work on nuclear technology application with 129I tracer.

scholarly journals 14C Levels in Tree Rings Located Near Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant, China

Radiocarbon ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhongtang Wang ◽  
Yuanyi Xiang ◽  
Qiuju Guo
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Tree Rings ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Background Level ◽  
Relative Increase ◽  
Pine Tree ◽  
Discharge Management ◽  
Excess Value

Specific activities of radiocarbon in annual tree rings corresponding to 1980-2009 are reported for a pine tree located 2 km from the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant (Qinshan NPP), China. While a negligible enhanced 14C activity due to operation of the Qinshan NPP Plant I is evident, a relative increase (1.8–62.6 Bq/kg C) was observed in the specific activity after operation of the Qinshan NPP Plant II in 2002 and Plant III in 2003. The enhanced values were primarily affected by the 14C discharged from Plant III (CANDU-type reactor), and a good correlation was found between the 14C discharged from Plant III in the growing season and the 14C excess value. The excess 14C activities peaked in 2005 (at 302.0 Bq/kg C, which is 62.6 Bq/kg C above the “clean air” 14C level), and then declined due to the improvement in 14C discharge management of Plant III. In 2009, the 14C-specific activity was near the background level.

scholarly journals 14C Levels in Tree Rings Located Near Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant, China

Radiocarbon ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 54 (02) ◽  
pp. 195-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhongtang Wang ◽  
Yuanyi Xiang ◽  
Qiuju Guo
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Tree Rings ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Background Level ◽  
Relative Increase ◽  
Pine Tree ◽  
Discharge Management ◽  
Excess Value

Specific activities of radiocarbon in annual tree rings corresponding to 1980-2009 are reported for a pine tree located 2 km from the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant (Qinshan NPP), China. While a negligible enhanced14C activity due to operation of the Qinshan NPP Plant I is evident, a relative increase (1.8–62.6 Bq/kg C) was observed in the specific activity after operation of the Qinshan NPP Plant II in 2002 and Plant III in 2003. The enhanced values were primarily affected by the14C discharged from Plant III (CANDU-type reactor), and a good correlation was found between the14C discharged from Plant III in the growing season and the14C excess value. The excess14C activities peaked in 2005 (at 302.0 Bq/kg C, which is 62.6 Bq/kg C above the “clean air”14C level), and then declined due to the improvement in14C discharge management of Plant III. In 2009, the14C-specific activity was near the background level.

scholarly journals Radiocarbon Releases At the Krško Nuclear Power Plant

Radiocarbon ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Vokal ◽  
Ivan Kobal
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Tree Rings ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Pressurized Water Reactor ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Water Reactor ◽  
Radioactivity Monitoring

Since 1991, radiocarbon analyses of exhaust air have been part of the regular radioactivity monitoring program at the Krško Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), a Westinghouse 632 MWe pressurized water reactor (PWR). Activity of CO2 and hydrocarbons has been identified; the former contributes ca. 43%. A normalized release of total 14C of 0.219 TBqGWe−1a−1 was obtained. Indoor air 14C concentrations in selected rooms inside the plant have generally been <5 Bq m−3, although rare peaks of >1000 Bq m−3 may be reached. Tree rings have shown slight enhanced 14C activity due to the operation of the plant.

Pre- and Post-Accident 14C Activities in tree rings near the Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant

Radiocarbon ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 1633-1642
Author(s):  
Tetsuya Matsunaka ◽  
Kimikazu Sasa ◽  
Tsutomu Takahashi ◽  
Masumi Matsumura ◽  
Yukihiko Satou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Tree Rings ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Japanese Cypress ◽  
Fdnpp Accident ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Area Of Influence

ABSTRACTAreas affected by routine radiocarbon (14C) discharges from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) and accidental releases in March 2011 were investigated by analysis of cores from Japanese cypress and cedar trees growing at sites 9 and 24 km northwest of the plant. 14C concentrations in tree rings from 2008–2014 (before and after the accident) were determined by accelerator mass spectrometry, with 14C activities in the range 231–256 Bq kg−1 C. Activities during the period 2012–2014, after FDNPP shutdown, represent background levels, while the significantly higher levels recorded during 2008–2010, before the accident, indicate uptake of 14C from routine FDNPP operations. The mean excess 14C activity for the pre-accident period at the sites 9 and 24 km northwest of the plant were 21 and 12 Bq kg−1 C, respectively, indicating that the area of influence during routine FDNPP operations extended at least 24 km northwest. The mean excess tree-ring 14C activities in 2011 were 10 and 5.8 Bq kg−1 C at 9 and 24 km northwest, respectively, documenting possible impact of the FDNPP accident on 14C levels in trees.

Assessment of the Contamination by 14C Airborne Releases in the Vicinity of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant

Radiocarbon ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 1185-1197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Algirdas Pabedinskas ◽  
Evaldas Maceika ◽  
Justina Šapolaitė ◽  
Žilvinas Ežerinskis ◽  
Laurynas Juodis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Tree Ring ◽  
Tree Rings ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Atmospheric Dispersion ◽  
Measurement Data ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Dispersion Modeling ◽  
Ring Analysis

ABSTRACTA radiocarbon (14C) activity analysis in the tree rings around Ignalina nuclear power plant (INPP) has been carried out with the aim to test the hypothesis to use 14C tree-ring analysis data as a tool for the reconstruction of gaseous releases from NPP to the environment. The INPP has been in decommissioning state since the end of 2009. Tree-ring samples for 14C analysis were collected 7 yr after final power unit shutdown from the INPP vicinity. The samples from 5 sampling locations were collected, prepared and measured using the Single Stage Accelerator Mass Spectrometer (SSAMS). Data analysis represents observable Ignalina NPP influence by 14C increase up to 15 pMC (percent modern carbon) in tree rings. Good correlations of the 14C concentrations and wind direction were obtained. The main purpose of this article was to match 14C measurement data along with the atmospheric dispersion modeling of emissions in order to retrospectively characterize the emission source.

scholarly journals Radiocarbon Impact on a Nearby Tree of a Light-Water VVER-Type Nuclear Power Plant, Paks, Hungary

Radiocarbon ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 826-832 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Janovics ◽  
Z Kern ◽  
D Güttler ◽  
L Wacker ◽  
I Barnabás ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Tree Ring ◽  
Tree Rings ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Pressurized Water Reactor ◽  
Concentration Data ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
The Past ◽  
Background Area

Tree-ring series were collected for radiocarbon analyses from the vicinity of Paks nuclear power plant (NPP) and a background area (Dunaföldvár) for a 10-yr period (2000–2009). Samples of holocellulose were prepared from the wood and converted to graphite for accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14C measurement using the MICADAS at ETH Zürich. The 14C concentration data from these tree rings was compared to the background tree rings for each year. The global decreasing trend of atmospheric 14C activity concentration was observed in the annual tree rings both in the background area and in the area of the NPP. As an average of the past 10 yr, the excess 14C emitted by the pressurized-water reactor (PWR) NPP to the atmosphere shows only a slight systematic excess (∼6′) 14C in the annual rings. The highest 14C excess was 13′ (in 2006); however, years with the same 14C level as the background were quite frequent in the tree-ring series.

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