Historical record of tritium from tree cores at the Savannah River Site

Environ Sci Process Impacts. 2022 Aug 17;24(8):1144-1151. doi: 10.1039/d2em00193d.

Abstract

Tree cores from various locations at the Savannah River Site (SRS) and local area were measured for total tritium (T) content and T speciation to include tritiated water (HTO), exchangeable organic bound T (E-OBT) and non-exchangeable organic bound T (NE-OBT) species. The tree cores dated back to the 1960's or prior which provided an opportunity to measure T over the last 60-70 years. The total T levels from pine and oak tree cores were consistent with the record of known T atmospheric releases from nuclear activities at the SRS between the mid-1950's and 1990's with a notable peak in T tree core levels during the late 1960's. The T speciation data for some tree core samples from SRS demonstrated elevated levels of OBT : HTO and NE-OBT : E-OBT identified primarily in the last ∼20 years due to T inputs from remedial irrigation with OBT-rich pond water. Elevated but lower levels of OBT : HTO and NE-OBT : E-OBT were observed due to inputs from SRS operations during the last 70 years and prior to irrigation with the T-rich pond water.

MeSH terms

  • Radiation Monitoring*
  • Rivers
  • Trees*
  • Tritium / analysis
  • Water

Substances

  • Water
  • Tritium