Hostname: page-component-84b7d79bbc-g5fl4 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-31T04:31:55.250Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

14C Analysis of Annual Tree Rings from the Vicinity of the Chernobyl NPP

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Michael Buzinny ,
Ilja Likhtarev ,
Ivan Los' ,
Nikolay Talerko  and
Nikolay Tsigankov
Michael Buzinny
Affiliation:
Research Center for Radiation Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Melnikova 53, Kiev 254050 Ukraine
Ilja Likhtarev
Affiliation:
Research Center for Radiation Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Melnikova 53, Kiev 254050 Ukraine
Ivan Los'
Affiliation:
Research Center for Radiation Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Melnikova 53, Kiev 254050 Ukraine
Nikolay Talerko
Affiliation:
Research Center for Radiation Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Melnikova 53, Kiev 254050 Ukraine
Nikolay Tsigankov
Affiliation:
Research Center for Radiation Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Melnikova 53, Kiev 254050 Ukraine
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.

Samples of >40 pine trees were collected from around the Chernobyl NPP for radiocarbon measurement, to determine the spatial distribution of excessive 14C in tree rings from 1986 consequent upon accidental radiocarbon release. Tree samples were collected during 1995–1996 from sites situated at distances >2.5 km from the NPP and covering a variety of directions in relation to the NPP. To evaluate δ14C for 1986 annual rings, we compared 14C levels for separate 1985–1987 annual rings, taking into account the trend of operational releases. Early and late wood samples for 1986 annual tree rings were measured separately to increase the sensitivity and precision of measurements. The maximum value observed for excessive accidental radiocarbon levels (δ14C) was found to be 124 pMC (281.6 Bq kg-1 C). We present δ14C values for examined sites; their spatial distribution shows a high irregularity of atmospheric 14C depending on direction from the NPP. Using obtained data, we reconstruct the temporal behavior of 14C release during the Chernobyl accident with the aid of atmospheric transport modeling. The total amount of 14C released from 26 April to 5 May 1986 has been estimated as 44 TBq.

Type
Part 1: Methods
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 40 , Issue 1: 16th International Radiocarbon Conference 16-20,1997 Groningen , 1997 , pp. 373 - 379
Copyright
Copyright © The American Journal of Science 

References

Arslanov, Kh. A., 1987 Radiocarbon: Geochemistry and Geochronology. Leningrad, Leningrad University Press: 300 p. (in Russian).Google Scholar
Borzilov, V. A. and Klepikova, N. V. 1993 Effect of meteorological conditions and release composition on radionuclide deposition after the Chernobyl accident. In The Chernobyl Papers. Vol. 1. Doses to the Soviet Population and Early Health Effects Studies. Washington, REPS: 47–70.Google Scholar
Buikov, M. V., Garger, E. K. and Talerko, N. N. 1992 Research into the formation of spotted pattern of radioactive fallout with the Lagrangian-Eulerian model. Meteorologiya i Gidrologiya 12: 33–45 (in Russian).Google Scholar
Buzinny, M., Kovalyukh, N., Likhtarev, I., Los', I., Nesvetajlo, V., Pazdur, M. F., Sobotovich, E. and Skripkin, V. 1995 Ecological chronology of nuclear fuel cycle sites. In Cook, G. T., Harkness, D. D., Miller, B. F. and Scott, E. M., eds., Proceedings of the 15th International 14C Conference. Radiocarbon 37(2): 469–473.Google Scholar
Buzinny, M. G., Los', I. P., Zelensky, A. V., Kovalyukh, N. N., Skripkin, V. V. 1993b Possible correlation of 14C level in vegetables and 131I in thyroid gland due to Chernobyl accident. Actual Problems of Liquidation of Medical Consequences of Chernobyl Accident: Abstracts of Ukrainian Scientific Practical Conference, Kiev, 20–22 April 1993. Part I. Kiev, Health Ministry of Ukraine, Ukrainian Center for Radiation Medicine: 48–49 (in Russian).Google Scholar
Buzinny, M. and Skripkin, V. 1995 Newly designed 0.8-mL Teflon® vial for microvolume radiocarbon dating. In Cook, G. T., Harkness, D. D., Miller, B. F. and Scott, E. M., eds., Proceedings of the 15th International 14C Conference. Radiocarbon 37(2): 743–747.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buzinny, M., Zelensky, A., Kovalyukh, N., Skripkin, V. and Sanin, E. 1993a Retrospective reconstruction of 14C levels in emergency explosion after the Chernobyl accident. In Conference on Actual Questions of Retrospection, Running and Prediction Radiation Dosimetry after Chernobyl Accident. October 27–29, 1992, Kiev. Kiev, Ukrainian Scientific Center of Radiation Medicine, Enterprise “ROSA” MinChernobyl of Ukraine: 118–124 (in Russian).Google Scholar
Buzulukov, Yu. P. and Dobrynin, Yu. L., 1993 Release of radionuclides during the Chernobyl accident. In The Chernobyl Papers. Vol. 1. Doses to the Soviet Population and Early Health Effects Studies. Washington, REPS: 3–21.Google Scholar
Gaiko, V. B., Korablev, N. A., Solov'ev, E. N., et al. 1985 Discharge of 14C by a nuclear power plant with RBMK-1000. Atomnaya Energiya 59(144) (in Russian).Google Scholar
Kovalyukh, N. N. and Skripkin, V. V. 1992 Chemical sample preparation for radioecological determination of radiocarbon. In Radioisotopes in Ecological Investigations. Kiev, Naukova Dumka: 93–101 (in Russian).Google Scholar
Kovalyukh, N. N., Skripkin, V. V., Sobotovich, E. V., et al. 1994 Radiocarbon of accidental release of Chernobyl NPP in annual tree rings. Zeszyty Naukowe Politechniki Slaskiej – Matematyka-Fizyka 71: 217–224 (in Russian).Google Scholar
Olsson, I. U. and Possnert, G. 1992 14C Activity in different sections and chemical fractions of oak tree rings, AD 1938–1981. In Long, A. and Kra, R. S., eds., Proceedings of the 14th International 14C Conference. Radiocarbon 34(3): 757–767.Google Scholar
Salonen, L. 1987 Carbon-14 and tritium in air in Finland after the Chernobyl accident. Radiochimica Acta 41: 145–148.Google Scholar
Skripkin, V. and Kovalyukh, N. 1994 A universal technology for oxidation of carbon-containing materials for radiocarbon dating. Conference of Geochronology and Dendrochronology of Ancient Towns and Radiocarbon Dating of Archeological Finds. Vilnius, Lithuania, October 31–November 4, 1994. Abstracts and Papers. Vilnius, Vilnius University Press: 37–42.Google Scholar
Vakulovski, S. M., Shershakov, V. M., Golubenkov, A. V., et al. 1993 Computer-information support of analysis of radiation environment in the territories polluted as a result of the Chernobyl accident. Radiation & Risk (Moscow-Obninsk) 3: 40–61 (in Russian).Google Scholar