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  and Safety
714 W. Lombard Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-706-7055
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Hydrogen-3 (H-3) (Tritium)

Physical Data:

Pure Beta Emitter

  • Beta Energy
18.6 keV (max.)
5.69 keV (avg.)
  • Radioactive Half Life
  • Biological Half Life
  • Effective Half Life
  • Max. beta range in air
  • Max. beta range in water
12.3 years
12 days
12 days
0.6 cm
6 x 10-4 cm

Radiological:

  • 0% of beta particle energy transmitted through dead layer of skin
  • Critical organ:  body water or tissue
  • Internal exposure through ingestion, inhalation, or adsorption are primary concerns

Shielding:

  • None required

Survey Instrumentation:

  • Liquid Scintillation Counter (LSC)
    • LS window 0 to 400
    • LS efficiency 65%

Regulatory Compliance:

  • ALI
8 x 104 µCi: (by ingestion)
8 x 104 µCi:  (by inhalation)
  • DAC
2 x 10 -5 µCi/mL

Special Considerations:
Tritium, because of its low beta energy, cannot be monitored directly and therefore special care is needed to keep the working environment clean.  Regular monitoring by counting swipes is recommended in areas where Tritium is used. 

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