Dissolution rate and radiation dosimetry of metal tritides

Conference · Fri Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:10112148

Cheng, Y

Metal tritides including titanium tritide (Ti{sup 3}H{sub x}) and erbium tritide (Er{sup 3}H{sub x}) have been used as components of neutron generators. These compounds can be released to the air as aerosols during fabrication, assembling, and testing of components or in accidental or fugitive releases; as a result, workers may be exposed to these compounds by inhalation. A joint research project between Sandia National Laboratories and the Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute was initiated to investigate the solubility of metal tritide particles, to determine retention and translocation of inhaled particles in animals, and to develop an internal dosimetry model. The current understanding of metal tritides and their radiation dosimetry for internal exposure is very limited. The ICRP Report 30 does not provide for tritium dosimetry in metal tritide form. The current radiation protection guidelines for metal tritide particles are based on the assumption that the biological behavior is similar to tritiated water which could be easily absorbed into body fluid, and therefore, a relatively short biological half life (10 days). If the solubility is low, the biological half life of metal tritide particles and the dosimetry of inhalation exposure to these particles could be quite different from tritiated water. This would have significant implications in the current health protection guidelines including annual limits of intakes and derived air concentrations. The preliminary results of our metal tritide dissolution study indicated that the solubility of titanium tritide is low.

• Research Organization: Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Inst., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76EV01013
• OSTI ID: 10112148
• Report Number(s): CONF-9304128--23; ON: DE95006162
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560101
560162
61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS, PLANTS, MICROORGANISMS, AND CELLS
DOSIMETRY
DOSIMETRY AND MONITORING
ERBIUM COMPOUNDS
EXPOSURE CHAMBERS
INHALATION
PARTICLE SIZE
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIOACTIVE AEROSOLS
RATS
TITANIUM COMPOUNDS
TRITIDES
UPTAKE