Determination of 3 H and 14 C in Organic Sample after Separation through Combustion Method

The Environmental program of the Cernavoda NPP (nuclear power plant) is based on the analysis of environmental samples: airborne, TLDs (thermoluminescence dosimeters), water, deposition, soil, grass, sediment, fish, milk, meat, eggs, grains, fruits and vegetables, using determination of 3 H and 14 C, gross alpha/beta and gamma spectrometry measurement techniques. This Program is a legal constraint for nuclear utilities and it is approved and supervised by the regulatory body. Besides, the actual legal requirements, Cernavoda NPP participates in a CANDU (Canadian Deuterium Uranium) Owners Group Project (COG HS & E-304) in order to implement the new standard CAN-CSA 288.1-08 for derived emission limits using results of measurements for OBT (organically bound tritium) concentrations in plant and animal products. The method for determination of 3 H and 14 C in organic samples after separation through non-catalytic combustion by flame oxidation is performed in Sample Oxidizer 307 equipment. Average values for total tritium activity concentration in fish samples of 21  2 Bq/kg fresh weight were determined. Results for 14 C have an average value of 327  26 Bq/kg-C in fish from Danube-River and 315  25 Bq/kg-C in fish from lakes. The average values for 14 C activity concentration in vegetables samples from Cernavoda and Seimeni areas are about 338  27 Bq/kg-C.