Experimental studies on the deposition to crops of radioactive gases released from gas cooled reactors. Part 1. Carbonyl sulphide-35

Experimental studies have been performed under controlled environmental conditions to determine the velocity of deposition (V(g)) of CO³⁵ S to crops, in order to validate mathematical models developed by Nuclear Electric for use in relation to emissions from its gas cooled nuclear power stations. The effects of a spike release at different growth stages was determined for wheat, bean and cabbage. After measurement of the V(g) the fate of the ³⁵S in individual organs of the crop was determined by sequential measurements upto harvest at maturity. Deposition velocity measurements ranged between 0.002 and 1.104 cm s^-1, dependent on plant size. Correction of V(g) for plant weight may prove to be more appropriate for model validation. The allocation of the ³⁵S Within the plants generally followed the growth patterns of individual organs. Loss of ³⁵S from the crops was almost entirely explicable in terms of radioactive decay.