Re: Tritium from Chernobyl

[Andy Hull <hull@mail.sep.bnl.gov>]

At 01:24 PM 7/10/97 -0500, you wrote:
>Hello Radsafers,
>
>When looking at the list of  radionuclides released during the Chernobyl
>accident, I was surprised tritium was not mentioned. Can someone confirm
>this absence ? 
>Would it be rather the low amount of tritium released plus its low
>radiotoxicity that could explain the fact that it is not listed OR is it
>that there was no tritium released ?
>
>Thanks
>***************************************************
>Jean-Michel MURE
>ANDRA
>DSU/SR/Radiological Protection and Environmental Surveillance
>Parc de la Croix Blanche
>1-7, rue Jean Monnet
>92298 CHATENAY MALABRY Cedex
>FRANCE
>****************************************************
>Tel : (1) 46 11 83 74
>Fax : (1) 46 11 80 13
>****************************************************
>Email : jm.mure@andra.fr
>****************************************************
>
In a 1971 paper by Herbert Kouts (BNL) and Justin Long (USAEC) from my
tritium file, I find the following tritium production rates in Ci/yr  (which
I'll let you translate into Bq):

Reactor Type    Fuel    Control Coolant Total

PWR             15,000  1,000           16,000

BWR             15,000  6,000           21,000

As you are probably aware, the RMBK reactor bears a close resemblance to a BWR.

At any rate, the total amount and related doses have to be trivial compared
to the magacurie amounts of radioiodines, strontiums , cesiums and other
fission products released in the course of the Chernobyl accident.
>