ENVIRONMENTAL LEVELS OF RADIOCARBON IN LUND, SWEDEN, PRIOR TO THE START OF THE EUROPEAN SPALLATION SOURCE. Issue 1 (11th February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Eriksson Stenström, Kristina; Skog, Göran; Bernhardsson, Christian; Mattsson, Sören; Nielsen, Anne Birgitte; Rundgren, Mats; Muscheler, Raimund; Linderson, Hans; Pédehontaa-Hiaa, Guillaume; Rääf, Christopher
• Is Part Of: Radiocarbon. Volume 64:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 51
• Page End: 67
• Publication Date: 2022-02-11
• Subjects: contamination -- environment -- preoperational assessments; Radiocarbon dating -- Periodicals; 930.1028505
• DOI: 10.1017/RDC.2022.2
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0033-8222

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The European Spallation Source (ESS) is a neutron-based research facility under construction in Lund in southern Sweden. The spallation reactions will generate not only the desired neutrons, but also many radioactive by-products, including 14 C. As part of the licensing process, and as recommended by the IAEA, various preoperational studies are being carried out, including mapping the "zero-point" radiation environment around the site. As the city of Lund hosts several facilities using 14 C-labeled substances, and since temporary and local 14 C contamination have been observed in the past, 14 C mapping is an important part of these baseline assessments. We here present a summary of 14 C levels in various terrestrial environmental samples in Lund and in southern Sweden during the years 2012 to 2020. These environmental F 14 C do not display significantly elevated levels compared to sites located remote from Lund. We also describe a local 14 C contamination event that was detected at the Lund Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory in 2009. Horse-chestnut leaves collected close to the laboratory exhibited F 14 C values of up to ∼25% above the clean air background. Elevated values of F 14 C were also found in a short tree-ring series, especially in 2007. The source of this contamination was identified and successfully removed.