We used accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) to study radiocarbon-specific activity levels in agricultural and botanical samples (moss and pine needles) distributed within a 6.5-km radius of the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). The 14C-specific activity in moss samples (ranging from 265.6 to 223.0 Bq/kg C) decreased with increased distance from the stacks of Plant III (heavy water reactor) and reached the background level (223.8 Bq/kg C) at 6.5 km distance. Compared to the pine needles, the moss was a better indicator for investigating the 14C distribution near Qinshan NPP. The 14C-specific activity distribution in moss samples showed that the diffusion of 14C discharged from the Qinshan NPP was affected by both geographical and meteorological factors. Excess 14C-specific activity in the food samples ranged from 8.5 to 13.0 Bq/kg C (except for rice samples), resulting in a minimal radiation dose of 0.5 μSv per year to the public.

Specific activities of radiocarbon in annual tree rings corresponding to 1980-2009 are reported for a pine tree located 2 km from the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant (Qinshan NPP), China. While a negligible enhanced 14C activity due to operation of the Qinshan NPP Plant I is evident, a relative increase (1.8–62.6 Bq/kg C) was observed in the specific activity after operation of the Qinshan NPP Plant II in 2002 and Plant III in 2003. The enhanced values were primarily affected by the 14C discharged from Plant III (CANDU-type reactor), and a good correlation was found between the 14C discharged from Plant III in the growing season and the 14C excess value. The excess 14C activities peaked in 2005 (at 302.0 Bq/kg C, which is 62.6 Bq/kg C above the “clean air” 14C level), and then declined due to the improvement in 14C discharge management of Plant III. In 2009, the 14C-specific activity was near the background level.