EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON THE DEPOSITION TO CROPS OF RADIOACTIVE GASES RELEASED FROM GAS-COOLED REACTORS .2. HYDROGEN SULFIDE-35

Experimental studies were performed in a controlled environment to det ermine the deposition velocity of (H2S)-S-35 to major British crops, a s part of a validation exercise for models developed by Nuclear Electr ic PLC in the UK. Following initial uptake of the gas, the subsequent fate of the S-35 was quantified up to maturity. Deposition velocities varied between 0.05 and 4.46 cm(3) g(-1) s(-1) and 0.0007 and 2.67 cm s(-1) on a weight- and area basis, respectively. Overall, allocation o f S-35 derived from H2S followed the growth pattern of individual orga ns, similar to earlier studies with COS, while the prime loss mechanis m for the radionuclides appeared to be radioactive decay. Copyright (C ) 1996 Elsevier Science Limited.