Distribution of cosmogenic ⁷Be in environmental matrices around Kudankulam

⁷Be is a naturally occurring cosmogenic radionuclide produced in the atmosphere through the spallation of nitrogen and oxygen nuclei by cosmic ray produced neutrons and protons. Due to its continuous production in the atmosphere, its relatively short half-life (53.3 days), and its ease of measurement by gamma spectrometry, ⁷Be has proven to be a useful tool for tracing and quantifying environmental processes such as atmospheric deposition, atmospheric transport and soil erosion etc. Therefore a systematic study is undertaken to estimate the concentration of ⁷Be in different environmental compartments around Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project site. This study discusses the results of the concentration of ⁷Be obtained in surface air, dry deposition, rain water and some plant species around Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant