Accidental release of tritiated water – toward a better radiological assessment

¹ “Horia Hulubei” National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Life and Environmental Physics Department, 407 Atomistilor St., POB MG-6, Bucharest-Magurele, 077125, Romania
² CNE-CERNAVODA, 1 Medgidiei st, CP 42, 905200 Cernavoda, Romania

Corresponding authors: galdan@ifin.nipne.ro dangaler@yahoo.com

Abstract

The need of less conservative but reliable risk assessment for accidental tritium release was recognized in the frame of present debate on nuclear energy future. While the fusion reactor is only in research phase and risk assessment are not extremely stringent, Romania faces a debate on near future of nuclear energy with heavy water reactors, known to have a large load and release of tritium. Both tritium and ¹⁴C are key radionuclide for CANDU and are also directly involved in the life cycle of plants and animals. An interdisciplinary approach is proposed in order to better handle the environmental transfer of tritium under accidental conditions and preparatory steps are presented.