A REVIEW OF C-14 WASTE ARISING FROM THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED-KINGDOM

We report on a review of C-14 production and release from the nuclear industry in the United Kingdom (TK). Using earlier predictions (Bush, White and Smith 1984) it is estimated that a total of 1764 TBq of C-14 would have been produced in UK graphite-moderated reactors up to the end of 1995, and 135 TBq of this total would have been released. Relea se rates, based on reported discharges, of 5.1 and 0.93 TBq GW(e)a(-1) have been derived for Magnox reactors and Advanced Gas Cooled Reactor s (AGRs), respectively. Using these new figures, cumulative discharges of C-14 up to 1995 from reactors have been estimated at 531 TBq. The combination of these reactor discharges and the reported discharges fr om Sellafield (388 TBq) and Amersham (52 TBq) suggest a total cumulati ve release of 971 TBq of C-14 up to the end of 1995.