Tritium in the Environment

Carsten, A. L.

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-035408-5.50014-9

Cited by 39 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 108 publications

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“…Both the average track length of 0.56 μm in water (Carsten 1979) and the maximum track length of 6 μm in water (Carsten 1979) of the emitted electron are small compared to the average size of a cell (10-20 μm).…”

Section: Physical Properties Sources Doses and Biological Effectsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Systematic review of epidemiological studies of exposure to tritium

Little

Wakeford

2008

J. Radiol. Prot.

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Tritium (3H) is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen. A number of factors combine to create a good deal of interest in the risks arising from exposure to tritium of both workers and members of the public. Tritium is ubiquitous in environmental and biological systems and is very mobile due to its occurrence as tritiated water. In this paper we systematically review epidemiological data relating to tritium exposure with a view to assessing the risk of such exposure using those studies that are potentially informative. The usefulness of the available studies of cancer and other adverse health effects in workforces and members of the general public is often impaired by a lack of tritium-specific dose data, low doses and small numbers of cases. A number of workforce studies have been identified in which tritium-specific individual doses have been estimated, although none of them, as presently reported, enable reliable inferences to be made on risks associated with exposure to tritium. In general, the available epidemiological studies on the offspring of radiation workers or on pregnancy outcome in areas subject to releases of tritium do not contain enough detail to estimate risks from tritium exposure. Although the studies presently reported are uninformative on risks from tritium, a number of the occupationally exposed cohorts would be potentially informative, particularly if data were suitably combined.

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Section: Physical Properties Sources Doses and Biological Effectsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Systematic review of epidemiological studies of exposure to tritium

Little

Wakeford

2008

J. Radiol. Prot.

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“…This is about equal to the total world inventory of tritium in equilibrium from natural production (7-14 x 10 7 Ci) [16]. This is about equal to the total world inventory of tritium in equilibrium from natural production (7-14 x 10 7 Ci) [16].…”

Section: Radionuclide Inventory In the Fusion Reactormentioning

confidence: 97%

“…In this instance, the release of tritium would be close to 2 x 107 Ci per year or 5 times the annual rate of natural tritium production of 4 x 106 Ci [16,31]. In this instance, the release of tritium would be close to 2 x 107 Ci per year or 5 times the annual rate of natural tritium production of 4 x 106 Ci [16,31].…”

Section: Radionuclide Inventory In the Fusion Reactormentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiation problems in fusion energy production

Feinendegen

Cronkite

Bond

1980

Radiat Environ Biophys

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Radiation research and biology is confronted today with an armada of questions, anxieties and fears posed by a multitude of different population groups, by the concerned ordinary citizen, by technologists and engineers, by politicians and managers, and, of course, by our own colleagues in science. There is an urgent challenge for providing new energy resources. Challenges always create divers opinions and the more urgent a challenge, the more emotional becomes the dialogue.The present issues of controversy will be intensified as the fusion reactor technology approaches the door step of publicity and the possible health detriment from its radioactive emissions arouse concern.In this paper the inventory of radionuclides in a model fusion reactor will be reviewed. Tritium is the major constituent to be concerned with [31,60,69]. The question of tritium releases and pathways to man will be covered. Next pertinent questions related to the absorbed dose from incorporated tritium and late effects will be analyzed. In this context the problem of defining the radiation-sensitive site in the body for incorporated tritium and the RBE of the beta particle appears controversial and is crucial. Radionuclide Inventory in the Fusion ReactorThe present concept of the fusion reactor is based on the D-T fusion producing 3.5 MeV alpha-particles and 14 MeV neutrons for both, heat generation and tritium breeding. The blanket around the fusion chamber thus serves as shield and for cooling. Since it contains lithium in various chemical forms [31] tritium breeding is permanent. Figure 1 gives a schematic representation of a fusion reactor. The neutrons and tritium, shown in black, are sources of radiation problems. The neutrons are

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“…The maximum β particle energy is 18.6 keV while the average value is 5.7 keV (Advisory Group on Ionising Radiation 2007). This low energy means that β particles from tritium have a very short range of approximately 6 mm maximum in air and 6 μm maximum in water (Carsten 1979) and that the radionuclide can be detected only by methods such as liquid scintillation counting. The 18 O(p,t) 16 O reaction has a threshold energy of approximately 4 MeV (Legg 1963) and occurs at the same time as the 18 O(p,n) 18 F reaction for the typical proton energy range (10-20 MeV) used to produce 18 F (International Atomic Energy Agency 2012a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantification of the activity of tritium produced during the routine synthesis of¹⁸F fluorodeoxyglucose for positron emission tomography

et al. 2014

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Gamma emitting radioactive by-products generated during the cyclotron irradiation of (18)O labelled water by protons to produce (18)FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose) for positron emission tomography are well characterised. However, the production of tritium ((3)H) through the (18)O(p,t)(16)O nuclear reaction has not been investigated in detail. The aim of this study was to measure tritium activity produced during a large number of (18)FDG production runs in order to obtain a better perspective on its impact on radioactive waste management, particularly as regards storage and disposal. Tritium was assayed by liquid scintillation counting in recovered (18)O water from 24 separate production runs. The mean (SD) values of activity and activity concentration were 170 (20) kBq and 81 (8) kBq ml(-1) respectively. Both quantities were positively correlated with the activity of (18)F. Tritium was detected in much lower concentration in water used to rinse the target vessel. The activity of tritium is such that it is exempt from regulatory control and may be combined with bulk non-active waste for disposal as Very Low Level Waste. However, variations in the irradiation conditions or the procedures for the collection of recovered water might result in its classification as Low Level Waste, necessitating a more complex disposal regime.

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Tritium in the Environment

Cited by 39 publications

References 108 publications

Systematic review of epidemiological studies of exposure to tritium

Systematic review of epidemiological studies of exposure to tritium

Radiation problems in fusion energy production

Quantification of the activity of tritium produced during the routine synthesis of¹⁸F fluorodeoxyglucose for positron emission tomography

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Tritium in the Environment

Cited by 39 publications

References 108 publications

Systematic review of epidemiological studies of exposure to tritium

Systematic review of epidemiological studies of exposure to tritium

Radiation problems in fusion energy production

Quantification of the activity of tritium produced during the routine synthesis of18F fluorodeoxyglucose for positron emission tomography

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Quantification of the activity of tritium produced during the routine synthesis of¹⁸F fluorodeoxyglucose for positron emission tomography