Methods of tritium containment - DOE-HDBK-1141-2001

Radiological Assessor Training

DOE-HDBK-1141-2001

Student's Guide

Most tritium leaves the body either in urine or

through evaporation from the lungs and skin. The

dose commitment from an uptake of one curie of

HTO is approximately 63 rem.

For the above 3 discussed modes of entry: STPs

and insoluble components of tritiated oils behave

with the characteristics of the particle to which they

are attached.

For dose calculations for STPs, ICRP Publication

66 uses absorption types; slow, medium, and fast

(S, M, F). These are used in place of the lung

retention classes (day, week, and year; D, W, Y)

used in ICRP Publication 30. Depending on the

absorption type of the compound, the dose per

intake will be different than HTO.

For example: The air concentration value (which

could be used in assessing dose per intake) for

Type S STP is 10 times more restrictive than HTO,

while the air concentration value for Type F STP is

5 times less restrictive than HTO.

Soluble OBTs act somewhat similar to HTO,

however a larger percentage of nuclear

transformations occur in the stomach. The dose

per intake is approximately twice that of HTO.

Skin absorption is also a valid intake pathway for

tritiated oil components and solvent OBT.

G. Methods of tritium containment

1. Primary - Process equipment and piping

2. Secondary

Glove boxes

Temporary vented enclosures

Module 7 - 8