nbsp   How much tritium is released by CANDU plants?
[A. CANDU Technology] [B. The Industry] [C. Cost/Benefit] [D. Safety/Liability] [E. Waste] [F. Security/Non-Proliferation] [G. Uranium] [H. Research Reactors] [I. Other R&D] [J. Further Info] Tritium is a radioactive form of hydrogen (H-3), with a half-life of 12.3 years. It is found in small amounts in nature (about 4 kg globally), created by cosmic ray interactions in the upper atmosphere. Industrial releases of tritium account for roughly 25% of the natural production. Tritium is considered to be a weak radionuclide because of the low energy of its radioactive emissions (beta particle energy 0 – 19 keV; average energy about 6 keV). The beta particles (similar to electrons) do not travel very far in air and do not penetrate skin; therefore the main biological hazard of tritium is due to its intake into the body (inhalation, ingestion, or absorption). Tritium levels in the atmosphere were elevated significantly by the atomic bomb tests of the 1950s and 1960s, in total adding about 600
[A. CANDU Technology] [B. The Industry] [C. Cost/Benefit] [D. Safety/Liability] [E. Waste] [F. Security/Non-Proliferation] [G. Uranium] [H. Research Reactors] [I. Other R&D] [J. Further Info] Tritium is a radioactive form of hydrogen (H-3), with a half-life of 12.3 years. It is found in small amounts in nature (about 4 kg globally), created by cosmic ray interactions in the upper atmosphere. Industrial releases of tritium account for roughly 25% of the natural production. Tritium is considered to be a weak radionuclide because of the low energy of its radioactive emissions (beta particle energy 0 – 19 keV; average energy about 6 keV). The beta particles (similar to electrons) do not travel very far in air and do not penetrate skin; therefore the main biological hazard of tritium is due to its intake into the body (inhalation, ingestion, or absorption). Tritium levels in the atmosphere were elevated significantly by the atomic bomb tests of the 1950s and 1960s, in total adding about 600
