Medical Treatment - HDBK110520020114

DOE-HDBK-1105-2002

Radiological Training for Tritium Facilities

Student's Guide

Notes

Biological Half-life

Half of the HTO is eliminated from

the body in about 10 days.

Through normal biological

processes, it would take 70 days or

more to eliminate 99% of the

assimilated tritiated water.

Stable tritium particulate aerosols

and insoluble organically bound

tritium behave in the body in a

similar manner as the particulate to

which the tritium is bound and

would have a longer half life.

Medical Treatment

The biological half-life can be shortened by

increasing the water elimination in the body.

Therefore, individuals who have uptakes of tritium

are encouraged to drink water. Drinking copious

amounts of water should not be done without a

physician's guidance. Certain medical conditions

may be affected by liquid intake.

IV.

RADIOLOGICAL CONTROLS FOR TRITIUM - How

can I protect myself from exposures to tritium?

Tritium can be present in a variety of chemical forms.

Ongoing research indicates that the form of tritium which

gives the highest dose (per unit intake) is tritium particulate

aerosols. However, these compounds are not found in the

quantities and various locations as tritiated water. If we can

rule out special tritium compounds as being of concern, we

assume it may be tritiated water.

The preferred hierarchy of control is as follows:

engineered

administrative

personal protective equipment