Re: Skin Absorption and Protection

[c0etxlim@mrd42.mrd.usace.army.mil (Luke I. McCormick)]

Tritium skin penetration depends on the chemical/molecular form. HTO has been 
pretty well studied. tritium labelled DNA precursurs are fairly well 
uunderstood but the ability of the tritium atom to 'hop' from one molecule to 
another hasn't ever been addequately investigated that I've seen.  Just to cloud
 the issue a little, weigh the effects of the extreme heat stress imposed by 
 level A PPE and the extensive increase in time required to perform work in
 level A, which would add greater exposure to gamma emitters in the area, and
 the huge amount of tritium that needs to be absorbed/inhaled/ingested to get
 a significant dose. I've run the numbers on a couple of projects we've done
 and Level A causes more problems than it solves, in the rad contamination 
only sites. 
luke McCormick c0etxlim@mrd42.mrd.usace.army.mil