Biological Half-life - doe-hdbk-1105-2002

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