Radiocarbon distribution in northwest Belarus near the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant

Since 1994, the Institute of Geological Sciences has undertaken an environmental monitoring program to measure radiocarbon levels in territory adjacent to active nuclear power plants (NPP). We determined C-14 concentrations in natural objects from areas contiguous to Ignalina NPP as well as C-14 background concentration in areas remote from the NPP. In the environs of the Ignalina station comparatively elevated levels of C-14 were observed in vegetation and waters of Lake Drisvyaty. This appears to be a consequence of release of carbon radioisotope into the atmosphere and probably into waters of the lake during operation of the nuclear reactor.