Origins and behavior of tritium and carbon-14 in the environment
Artificial Radionuclide Background in French Metropolitan Territory

Tritium and carbon-14 are naturally produced by the interaction of cosmic rays with atoms in the upper atmosphere (cosmogenic origin). There is therefore a natural background of these two radionuclides . In addition, large quantities of tritium and carbon-14 have been released into the air during atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons. These two radionuclides are also present in the effluents discharged by most nuclear facilities