Re[2]: Tritium Watch

[Steven.Rima@DOEGJPO.COM (Steven Rima)]

     I can attest to what Frazier says. I own one of the Timex 
     tritium-lighted watches. At the time of manufacture (early 80's?) it 
     contained 200 mCi according to Timex. When I was working in a 
     radiochemistry lab, as a test I sealed the watch in a plastic bag and 
     placed the bag in a beaker of water for 24 hours. While I do not 
     remember the amount, there was definitely measurable tritium in the 
     water. I no longer wear the watch...  :-)
     
     Steven D. Rima, CHP
     Manager, Health Physics and Industrial Hygiene
     MACTEC-ERS, LLC
     steven.rima@doegjpo.com


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Tritium Watch
Author:  fbronson@canberra.com at Internet
Date:    11/19/97 4:28 PM


While I don't know the activity of 3H in the watches, I do know that it doesn't 
stay in the watch.  In a former life, I managed a commercial laboratory, and we 
had to forbid our radiochemists from wearing them in the laboratory.  They 
caused contamination in the 3H environmental sample blanks.  Placing the watch 
in a beaker with a bit of water for overnight proved the cause of the problem.  
And, 3H was easily measurable in Urine.  An insignificant dose, but it was 
significant to our customers that we not report false-positive activity.  And, 
without a watch, the techs stayed working longer.  
     
frazier bronson  CHP
canberra