2000 Volume 26 Issue 3 Pages 59-68
A simplified method for the monitoring of environmental 14C was developed and applied for the determination of 14C concentrations in tree rings collected in Fukuoka, Japan. As results obtained by our method reproduced the historical 14C levels in the environment, it was shown that our method was useful for the monitoring of environmental 14C. Recent 14C levels in Fukuoka were about 15 dpm/g-C. The difference between the years when the highest 14C level occurred in tree ring and rice was explained by their different growing season of the year. Therefore 14C concentrations in tree rings directly reflected the 14C levels in the atmosphere at the time of its growth. The deviation of 14C concentration due to the deposition of sap was not observed.
