Re: Carbon 14 and PWR

[Bernard L Cohen <blc+@pitt.edu>]

	I believe that it was in the 1970s that Carbon-14 was recognized
as the most important release from reprocessing plants into the
atmosphere. This is treated in UNSCEAR Reports. Apparently, in
reprocessing, the C-14 comes off as carbon dioxide and hence is not
captured with the high level waste. If the Krypton-85 is removed by
freezing it out as in many proposed technologies, the C-14 should also be
captured. The Kr-85 would be stored in tanks for its 10 year half life to
decay, but then something would have to be done with the C-14. I have not
seen this discussed. Of course, if the linear-no threshold theory falls,
all of this becomes unimportant.

Bernard L. Cohen
Physics Dept.
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Tel: (412)624-9245
Fax: (412)624-9163
e-mail: blc+@pitt.edu


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