Carbon-14 in the Environment-B38EC4E2

This Report summarizes the available information on C-14 in terms of its physical properties, sources, distribution in the environment, sampling and analysis, biology, projected impact, dosimetry, and waste management; and considers and evaluates its importance as a potential source of local and worldwide radiation exposure. Carbon-14 is produced naturally by cosmic ray interactions in the atmosphere. This natural source has been augmented by anthropogenic sources which include fallout from nuclear weapons testing and, to a lesser extent, emissions from nuclear power reactors. The specific activity of the atmospheric C-14 is continually reduced by the combustion products of fossil fuels and other sources which release stable carbon to the atmosphere diluting C-14 concentrations.