Current understanding of organically bound tritium (OBT) in the environment

A study has been made of the incorporation patterns of tritium from tritium oxide by Chlorella cells under conditions of light and dark. A new apparatus has been designed for use in photosynthesis experiments which necessitate the employment of dense cell suspensions and substrates of high specific activity (I C/ml). The incorporation patterns of 14CO2 in the presence and absence of tritiated water showed little evidence of physiological damage due to radiation. The substances incorporating tritium were essentially the same as those incorporating 14C from 14CO2. However, the percentage distribution of the tracer among the labelled compounds showed considerable differences from the carbon pattern. At the shortest incubation periods in the light, tritium appeared mainly in the sugar monophosphates, phosphoglyceric acid, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and malic acid. These substances also incorporated label most rapidly in the dark, though in this case a greater percentage of the activity fixed appeared in the amino acids. About three times as much tracer was fixed in the light as in the dark. The total activity fixed, and its distribution, was affected to some extent by the presence of ammonium or nitrate ions in the medium. Glycollic acid was labelled very early, and was the most active compound present. A scheme for hydrogen transport in photosynthesis involving an alternate oxidation and reduction of glycollic and glyxylic acids is proposed. The difficulties of interpreting the results of biochemical studies with hydrogen isotopes due to non-specific exchange reactions are discussed.

Photosynthesis Studies with Tritiated Water

https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01117744/document

Isotopic fractionation of tritium in biological systems.

Tritium dynamics in soils and plants grown under three irrigation regimes at a tritium processing facility in Canada

Atmospheric stability effects on potential radiological releases at a nuclear research facility in Romania: Characterising the atmospheric mixing state

An overview of organically bound tritium experiments in plants following a short atmospheric HTO exposure.

Some nuclear facilities have large tritium loads and subsequent environmental emissions and consequently, the radiological impact assessment is mandatory. In case of the unplanned (potential) accid...

S. Strack

Papers

An overview of organically bound tritium experiments in plants following a short atmospheric HTO exposure.

Preparatory Steps for a Robust Dynamic Model for Organically Bound Tritium Dynamics in Agricultural Crops