Nuclear energy: Health impact of carbon-14

Summary Estimates are presented on the carbon-14 generation rates in several reactor types and in peaceful nuclear explosions. If the carbon-14 generated in light water reactors is released, the population radiationdose rate it causes initially will be comparable to that resulting from the krypton-85 and tritium generated in these reactors. Because of the long half-life, the radiationdose commitment and thedose rate resulting from the environmental build-up of carbon-14 are considerably larger than those of the two other radionuclides.This work received support from the Program on Science, Technology, and Society at Cornell University, with funds given them by the Sloan Foundation, Inc.