Estimation of Biological Effects of Tritium.
Nuclear fusion technology is expected to create new energy in the future. However, nuclear fusion requires a large amount of tritium as a fuel, leading to concern about the exposure of radiation workers to tritium beta radiation. Furthermore, countermeasures for tritium-polluted water produced in decommissioning of the reactor at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station may potentially cause health problems in radiation workers. Although, internal exposure to tritium at a low dose/low dose rate can be assumed, biological effect of tritium exposure is not negligible, because tritiated water (HTO) intake to the body via the mouth/inhalation/skin would lead to homogeneous distribution throughout the whole body. Furthermore, organically-bound tritium (OBT) stays in the body as parts of the molecules that comprise living organisms resulting in long-term exposure, and the chemical form of tritium should be considered. To evaluate the biological effect of tritium, the effect should be compared with that of other radiation types. Many studies have examined the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of tritium. Hence, we report the RBE, which was obtained with radiation carcinogenesis classified as a stochastic effect, and serves as a reference for cancer risk. We also introduce the outline of the tritium experiment and the principle of a recently developed animal experimental system using transgenic mouse to detect the biological influence of radiation exposure at a low dose/low dose rate.
Radioisotope Research Center, Facility for Education and Research Support, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan.
Toshiyuki
T
Umata
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness; D012306:Risk; D014316:Tritium / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014878:Water Pollution, Radioactive
D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive; D014316:Tritium