EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON THE DEPOSITION TO CROPS OF RADIOACTIVE GASES RELEASED FROM GAS-COOLED REACTORS .1. CARBONYL SULFIDE-35

Experimental studies have been performed under controlled environmenta l conditions to determine the velocity of deposition (V-g) of (COS)-S- 35 to crops, in order to validate mathematical models developed by Nuc lear Electric for use in relation to emissions from its gas cooled nuc lear power stations. The effects of a spike release at different growt h stages was determined for wheat, bean and cabbage. After measurement of the V-g the fate of the S-35 in individual organs of the crop was determined by sequential measurements up to harvest at maturity. Depos ition velocity measurements ranged between 0.002 and 1.104 cm s(-1), d ependent on plant size. Correction of V-g for plant weight may prove t o be more appropriate for model validation. The allocation of the S-35 within the plants generally followed the growth patterns of individua l organs. Loss of S-35 from the crops was almost entirely explicable i n terms of radioactive decay.