[ RadSafe ] Is there an answer to the query on damage to tissue due to tritium decay?

[goldinem at songs.sce.com]

Regarding the subject question, many years ago when I did "molecular
radiation biology" research (yes, I was part of the grand conspiracy and
foolishly didn't even know it) the lab I worked in did detect DNA damage
due to incorporated tritium and C-14 (via thymide uptake).  For DNA strand
break analyses in tissue culture, if you used too high a level of labeled
thymidine, you induced additional strand breaks that complicated any
analysis using external radiation.  For that reason, our studies (in the
late 70's) were careful to use very low levels of the labeled compounds to
minimize "background" strand breaks so we could evaluate breakage (and
rejoining) due to external gamma rays.  Note the studies were strictly
tissue culture and didn't draw any conclusions about whole animal effects
or health.

If you need references, check out Ueno and Lett, Radiat Res 79, 424-429
(1979) or Goldin, Cox, and Lett, Radiat Res 83, 668-676 (1980).


Eric M. Goldin, Ph.D., CHP
<goldinem at songs.sce.com>