Re[3]: "Normal" concentration of tritium in urine

[Charles Potter <capotte@sandia.gov>]

---------------------------------- Forwarded ----------------------------------
From: Charles Potter at PO821CC1
Date: 10/22/97 10:24AM
To: Vincent.King@DOEGJPO.COM at hubsmtp
Subject: Re[3]: "Normal" concentration of tritium in urine
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     I have also seen this problem.  We let the individual keep his watch 
     and fight it out with the manufacturer.
     
     
     "Man is not the creature of circumstances; circumstances are the 
     creature of man." --Benjamin Disraeli 
     
     C. A. Gus Potter
     Sandia National Laboratories
     Radiation Protection Internal Dosimetry Program (505) 844-2750
     capotte@sandia.gov
     
     
     ______________________________ Reply Separator 
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     Subject: Re[2]: "Normal" concentration of tritium in urine
     Author:  Vincent.King@DOEGJPO.COM at hubsmtp
     Date:    10/22/97 9:48 AM
     
     
     It is normal and unavoidable for tritium to "leak" from a luminous 
     dial watch.
     
     But the statement below sounds like the watch was permanently taken 
     from the technician??
     
     If this is true, this raises a question:  since luminous dial watches 
     are manufactured, marketed, and perfectly legal to own, what would 
     give a facility the right to confiscate it? (and yes I'm well aware of 
     the contamination problems that can result at the site)
     
     What if a worker only wore a luminous dial watch at home (which would 
     still result in the same contamination/bioassay problems at work)- 
     would the facility go to the person's house to take the watch?... or 
     their whole wardrobe if it continuously attracts radon?
     
     I'm curious where facilities draw the line - and what legal 
     justification they have for permanently confiscating ANY personal 
     property from an individual...any good guidelines out there?
     
     Vincent King
     vincent.king@doegjpo.com
     
     
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: "Normal" concentration of tritium in urine
Author:  APalmerIII@aol.com at Internet 
Date:    10/22/97 09:25
     
     
Rick -
     
I'm not sure what you are seeing but I have seen 2000-3000 pCi/l in urine 
from a leaking wrstwatch.  I chased it for way too long (several months) 
before we figured out what it was.  Absorbed through the skin.  We bagged the 
tech's watch for a few weeks then resampled urine - problem gone.
 Contamination levels on the watch weren't that high.  We added it to our
interesting artifact collection.
     
Art Palmer
APalmerIII@aol.com