Metabolism of organically bound tritium in man

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Radiat. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3576412· OSTI ID:5968659

Etnier, E L; Travis, C C; Hetrick, D M

The classic methodology for estimating dose to man from environmental tritium assumes that all tritium, whether organically bound or free, enters directly into man's free body water compartment and is uniformly distributed as tritiated water. This methodology ignores the fact that organically bound tritium in foodstuffs may be directly assimilated in the bound compartment of tissues without previous oxidation. A four-compartment model consisting of a free body water compartment, two organic compartments, and a small, rapidly metabolizing compartment is proposed. The utility of this model lies in the ability to input organically bound tritium directly into organic compartments representing tissue solids. The model will be used to illustrate the potential importance of organically bound tritium to cumulative dose estimates. It is found that organically bound tritium in foodstuffs can increase cumulative total body dose by a factor of 1.7-4.5 times the free body water dose alone, depending on the bound to loose ratio of tritium in the diet.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5968659
• Journal Information: Radiat. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Radiat. Res.; (United States) Vol. 100:3; ISSN RAREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560171* -- Radiation Effects-- Nuclide Kinetics & Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BODY
CARBOHYDRATES
COMPARTMENTS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DOSES
FATS
FOOD
GLANDS
KIDNEYS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LIVER
LUNGS
MAMMALS
MAN
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METABOLISM
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PRIMATES
PROTEINS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
VERTEBRATES