Most cited article - PubMed ID 16538138
Almost twenty years' search of transuranium isotopes in effluents discharged to air from nuclear power plants with VVER reactors
In this work we present data on transuranium nuclides 238Pu, 239,240Pu, 241Am, 242Cm and 244Cm in effluents discharged to air (activity concentrations and annually discharged activities of individual radionuclides) from 7 stacks in 2004-2009. In the effluents discharged to air from one stack low activities of transuranium nuclides were observed throughout the studied period. Transuranium nuclides had been discharged to air from this stack also in previous years since 1996 when defect in the cladding of a fuel element and consequent contamination of the primary circuit occurred. In the effluents discharged to air from another stack transuranium nuclides were observed only in some monitoring periods of studied years. We could not prove the presence of transuranium nuclides in the effluents of the other stacks up to 2006. The transuranium nuclides in discharged effluents were registered in the second half-year of 2006. In 2007-2008 especially low activities of 241Am were found in these effluents.
- Keywords
- Air pollution, Nuclear power plants, Transuranium elements,
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH