Carbon-14 production by the nuclear industry
Hayes, D.W.; Macmurdo, K.W.
Health Physics 32(4): 215-219
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0017-9078 PMID: 881308 Document Number: 120620
A simple predictive equation for estimating 14C production by nuclear reactors was experimentally evaluated at the Savannah River Plant of the Atomic Energy Commission [USA]. Upon verification, this equation was used to estimate accumulated 14C production from the nuclear power industry through the year 2000 to be approximately 10% of that produced by all previous weapons testing and only 0.3% of the natural 14C level. Calculated dose contributions from 14C produced by the nuclear power industry between now and the year 2000 will total 0.55 mrem/individual compared with 25.5 mrem from 14C produced by natural processes and 19.3 mrem from 14C introduced to the environment from weapons tests.