title: Nuclear energy: health impact of carbon-14.
abstract: Estimates are presented on the carbon-14 generation rates in several reactor types and in peaceful nuclear explosions. If the carbon-14 generated in light water reactors is released, the population radiation dose rate it causes initially will be comparable to that resulting from the krypton-85 and tritium generated in these reactors. Because of the long half-life, the radiation dose commitment and the dose rate resulting from the environmental build-up of carbon-14 are considerably larger than those of the two other radionuclides.
mesh_terms: D000398:Air Pollution, Radioactive; D001417:Background Radiation; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D005107:Explosions; D009678:Nuclear Energy; D009688:Nuclear Reactors; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011847:Radioactive Fallout
chemical_list: D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D011847:Radioactive Fallout