[ RadSafe ] Fatalities due to Internal Radioactive Material

[Dukelow, James S Jr]

Thomas Johnston and John R. Johnson wrote:
-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On
Behalf Of Johnston, Thomas
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 12:40 PM
To: John R Johnson; Elsa nimmo; radsafe at radlab.nl
Subject: RE: [ RadSafe ] Fatalities due to Internal Radioactive Material

Does anyone recall any additional information regarding the "tritium
intake that resulted in death." ??? Or a more specific reference?

Thomas P. Johnston
Radiation Safety Officer
New York Medical College
Valhalla, NY 10595
914-594-4448 office
914-594-3665 fax
914-557-5950 mobile
tom_johnston at nymc.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On
Behalf Of John R Johnson
Sent: Monday, November 27, 2006 3:26 PM
To: Elsa nimmo; radsafe at radlab.nl
Subject: RE: [ RadSafe ] Fatalities due to Internal Radioactive Material

Elsa

There is a case of a tritium intake that resulted in death. I don't have
the reference, but its in a book called tritium and I think it happened
in Switzerland.

John
 _________________
John R Johnson, Ph.D.
*****

===========================

Volume I, p. 721 of J. Newell Stannard's _Radioactivity and Health_
notes two occupational fatalities among "luminizers" in Switzerland,
citing Seelentag (1973).  The workers handled from 

"one hundred to several thousand curies of tritium activity over periods
of three to six years.  They used both the gas and tritiated water.  The
deaths were due to damage to the hematopoietic system, with symptoms
referable to lung damage."

Seelentag, W. 1973.  Two cases of tritium fatality.  In Moghissi and
Carter 1973, pp. 267-280.

Moghissi, A.A. and M.W. Carter, eds. 1973.  Tritium, CONF-710809,
Proceedings of a symposium held in Las Vegas, Nevada, August
28-September 3, 1971.  Phoenix-Las Vegas: Messenger Graphics.

Best regards.

Jim Dukelow
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Richland, WA
Jim.dukelow at pnl.gov

These comments are mine and have not been reviewed and/or approved by my
management or by the U.S. Department of Energy.