Assessment of the Contamination by 14C Airborne Releases in the Vicinity of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant. Issue 5 (October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pabedinskas, Algirdas; Maceika, Evaldas; Šapolaitė, Justina; Ežerinskis, Žilvinas; Juodis, Laurynas; Butkus, Laurynas; Bučinskas, Laurynas; Remeikis, Vidmantas
• Editors: Nadeau, Marie-Josée
• Is Part Of: Radiocarbon. Volume 61:Issue 5(2019)
• Page Start: 1185
• Page End: 1197
• Publication Date: 2019-10
• Subjects: airborne release, -- AMS, -- 14C, -- correlation, -- Gaussian model, -- Ignalina NPP, -- tree rings, -- wind rose; Radiocarbon dating -- Periodicals; 930.1028505
• DOI: 10.1017/RDC.2019.77
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0033-8222

Abstract

ABSTRACT: A radiocarbon ( 14 C) 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 14 C 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 14 C 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 14 C increase up to 15 pMC (percent modern carbon) in tree rings. Good correlations of the 14 C concentrations and wind direction were obtained. The main purpose of this article was to match 14 C measurement data along with the atmospheric dispersion modeling of emissions in order to retrospectively characterize the emission source.