Review of tritium in Bangladesh before commissioning of NPP Rooppur

Abstract

The comprehensive review article was carried out to present an overview of the tritium radioactivity concentrations in different components of observed freshwater ecosystems, primarily underground water (for drinking) and precipitation in People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Most of the reported data have been obtained using either 3 He in-growth technique which is an indirect method or using direct method with liquid scintillation counter. The results of the radio-ecological monitoring of environment in Bangladesh show that the tritium content in groundwater, precipitation and river water vary from 0-25 TU, 5-10 TU and 5-10 TU respectively. Around proposed Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant site, tritium radionuclide concentration of 6.7-17.6 TU, <25.2 TU, <25.2 TU and 3.4-10.1 TU were obtained for surface water of Padma, bottom sediments, aquatic flora and drinking water respectively. Globally, the natural and technogenic background of tritium is assumed to be 2.2 ± 0.7 Bq/L (18.5 ± 5.9 TU) and 5 Bq/L (42.0 TU) respectively. Henceforth, the investigation authenticated that the tritium content in all samples is below cut-off point that requires intervention. The results obtained during the radio-ecological studies allow for subsequent evaluation of radiation doses and radiological health hazards that organisms/people experience due to the anthropogenic changes of background radiation in the studied regions.