[Tritium and carbon-14 concentrations around an incinerator for radioactive liquid scintillator waste]

Activity measurements of 3H and 14C in several environmental samples around the incinerator for radioactive liquid scintillator waste at the Radioisotope Center, Kyushu University were carried out to estimate their levels. It was indicated that 3H and 14C concentrations in the atmosphere at 1 m from the outlet were about 0.2% of those estimated at the outlet, respectively. At 6 m away from the outlet, 3H concentration decreased to about one twentieth of that at 1 m and 14C concentration to background level. For soils and plants, 14C concentrations showed negligibly low values. The existence of these nuclides in particle form was not confirmed. It is considered that the result of the higher 3H concentrations as compared to 14C concentrations reflects not only the difference of the waste amounts of their nuclides, but also the discharge of 3H as moisture as well as water vapor.