환경시료중의 삼중수소준위를 조사하기 위하여, 국내 12개 지역에서 채취한 생물시료(쌀, 채소, 솔잎)중의 삼중수소를 분석하였다. 생물시료중의 삼중수소는 동결건조법과 건조시료의 연소법에 의해 조직자유수 삼중수소 (TFWT: Tissue-Free Water Tritium)와 조직결합수 삼중수소 (TBT: Tissue-bound tritium)로 분류 추출하였으며, 액 체 섬광계수기(Liquid Scintillation Counter)를 이용하여 각 시료중의 삼중수소를 측정하였다. TFWT 농도는 쌀의 경우 $0.96{sim}3.96Bq/l$, 배추는 $0.83{sim}3.40 Bq/l$, 솔잎의 경우는 $1.02{sim}3.01 Bq/l$ 범위의 값을 나타내었으며, TBT/TFWT의 평균 농도비는 쌀의 경우 0.94,배추는 1.71, 솔잎은 1.39의 결과를 나타내었다. TBT/TFWT 농도비가 1보다 높은 이유는 TBT가 TFWT보다 식물체 내에서의 체류기 간이 길기 때문인 것으로 추측되며, TBT/TFWT의 농도비는 식물의 종류, 삼중수소에 대한 식물체의 피폭시간, 기온, 습도 및 대기확산 인자에 의해 크게 좌우된다.
To evaluate tritium level in some environmental samples, tissue-free water tritium (TFWT) and tissue-bound tritium (TBT) were analyzed in rices, chinese cabbages and pine needles collected at 12 locations in Korea. The TFWT was recovered by freeze-drying of the samples and the TBT was obtained in the form of water by combustion of the dried samples. Tritium was measured by liquid scintillation counter. The concentrations of TFWT were in the range of $0.96{sim}3.96 Bq/1,; 0.83{sim}3.40 Bq/1;and;1.02{sim}3.01 Bq/1$ in rices, chinese cabbages and pine needles, respectively. The mean specific activity ratios (TBT/TFWT) were 0.94, 1.71 and 1.39 in rices, chinese cabbages and pine needles, respectiviely. This excess TBT in the samples may be attributed to the fact that the residence time of TBT in the plant is longer than that of TFWT. The specific activity ratio depends on the plant species, the exposed time to tritiated atmosphere, atmospheric moisture, temperature and diffusion factor.
