Metabolism and dosimetry of tritium from tritium gas contaminated surfaces

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Fusion Technol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6135071

Johnson, J R; Lamothe, E S; Jackson, J S; McElroy, R G.C.

Experiments have shown that a surface contaminated by tritiated hydrogen gas (T/sub 2/) that is brought into contact with intact skin will result in elevated concentrations of organically bound tritium (OBT) in urine, and in skin, at the point of contact. Recently, experiments were carried out on rats exposed to T/sub 2/ contaminated surfaces to extend the measurements of OBT in tissues to several months post exposure; to measure the microdistribution of the OBT in skin tissue; to develop methods of measuring OBT in urine; and to evaluate the effectiveness of decontamination efforts after an exposure. Retention and excretion was followed for 56 days post exposure. Elevated OBT was observed throughout this period, most notably in skin and liver. Autoradiography of skin sections at the point of contact indicates that the OBT is concentrated in the basal layer of the skin, in the epithelium of hair follicles, and in subcutaneous muscle. The data were used to relate the OBT in urine to doses to the skin at the point of contact. Various ion exchange columns were evaluated for their ability to separate out the OBT from the HTO but were not found to be effective. A double distillation method is recommended.

• Research Organization: Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Chalk River Nuclear Labs., Chalk River, Ontario (CA)
• OSTI ID: 6135071
• Journal Information: Fusion Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Fusion Technol.; (United States) Vol. 14:2; ISSN FUSTE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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AUTORADIOGRAPHY
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL LOCALIZATION
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CONTAMINATION
DATA
DOSIMETRY
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
INFORMATION
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MATERIALS
METABOLISM
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
RADIOISOTOPES
SKIN
SURFACES
TRITIUM
UPTAKE
URINE
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES