Science Gateway
Radioisotope
Calcium - 45
Carbon - 14
Chromium - 51
Hydrogen - 3
Iodine - 125
Iron - 59
Manganese - 54
Phosphorus - 32
Phosphorus - 33
Sodium - 22
Sulfur - 35

HYDROGEN - 3

(3H)

Physical Half-life: 12.35 years
Radiations:-ß 18.6 keV
External Exposure:Low energy ß, not external hazard, radiation badge not necessary.
Biological Data: ALI80 mCi
Biological half-life 12 days
Effective half-life 12 days
Critical Organs Body water
Bioassay Urinalysis
Shielding: None is recommended.
Range of ß in air is 0.65" and 0.00064" in lucite.
Monitoring
& Efficiency		 LSC (Eff. ~40%)
Cannot be detected with a GM meter.

Special Considerations

  • Work with volatile forms of 3H, i.e., gas/tritiated water, in a fume hood.

  • Oxides of tritium can readily be absorbed through the skin. Wear 2 pairs of disposable gloves and other appropriate protective attire.

  • Tritiated DNA precursors, (e.g., tritiated thymidine), are potential internal hazards. In the body, some are incorporated into the cellular DNA with a biological half-life of one year instead of 12 days as in 3H2O. Thus, inside the body, precursors may be more hazardous than 3H2O.