[ RadSafe ] Natural tritium production (was: BNL tritium, etc.)

[Clayton J Bradt]

According to Okada, S. and Momoshima,N (Health Phys. 65(6):595-609;1993),
the equilibrium inventory of naturally produced tritium (mostly cosmogenic)
is 1.0 - 1.3 EBq or 27 - 35 MCi. (31 MCi)/(9700 Ci/g) = 3.2 kg tritium. At
equilibrium (creation rate) = (decay rate), so (1.15 E18 Bq)*(365.25
d/y)*(86400 s/d)*(3 g/mol)/(6.022 E23 mol-1)= (181 g/y)*(9700 Ci/g) = 1.75
MCi/y.  Jerry Cohen's value for cosmogenic tritium production was 6 MCi/y,
so the value Dan gets for the annual mass of natural tritium produced seems
to be correct, given the assumptions used.


Clayton J. Bradt
Principal Radiophysicist
NYS Dept. of Health
Biggs Laboratory, Room D486A
Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12201-0509

518-474-1993
IMPORTANT NOTICE: This e-mail and any attachments may contain confidential or sensitive information which is, or may be, legally privileged or otherwise protected by law from further disclosure. It is intended only for the addressee. If you received this in error or from someone who was not authorized to send it to you, please do not distribute, copy or use it or any attachments. Please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and delete this from your system. Thank you for your cooperation.