Tritium in surface waters, tap water and in precipitation in Poland duringthe 1994-1999 period

Concentrations of tritium in environmental waters (precipitation, rivers, l akes, tap water) have been determined using electrolytic enrichment and liq uid scintillation counting. In waters of big rivers (the Vistula and the Od ra rivers), lakes and tap water the annual average concentrations were simi lar to each other being from 1.4 to 1.9 Bq.dm(-3). These concentrations wer e similar to those in the precipitation in which they ranged from 1.7 to 2. 2 Bq.dm(-3). The lowest tritium concentrations were found in waters of the Seashore Region rivers (average for 1994-1999 was 1.1 Bq.dm(-3)). The triti um concentrations in surface waters and in precipitation are still higher t han that of natural level. The data obtained show that tritium concentratio n in the water of rivers might depend on the size of drainage area The obse rved seasonal variations of tritium concentration in the precipitation coll ected in Warsaw and at the Mount Sniezka indicate the stratospheric source of tritium. It was found that about 30% of tritium deposited with precipita tion is removed to the Baltic Sea with river waters.