ANNUAL VARIATIONS OF 14C CONCENTRATION IN THE TREE RINGS IN THE VICINITY OF IGNALINA NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

In this paper we analyze the radiocarbon (C-14) concentration changes over the whole operational period of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP) including the post-shutdown decommissioning. Environmental samples from the vicinity of the INPP and a rural area as background of pine tree rings were analyzed with the single stage accelerator mass spectrometer (SSAMS). The analysis shows the local influence of the INPP from 3 to 7 pMC. The whole time span from 1983 to 2015 is divided into three periods representing the early and late operational and post-shutdown stages of the INPP with different C-14 profiles in analyzed samples. The influence of the maintenance of the INPP and radioactive waste management activities are indicated and discussed.