Tritium levels in blood and urine samples of the members of the Italian general population and some exposed subjects

The experimental data have indicated a large variability of the individual tritium concentrations in both urine (range: 0.5-4.0 pCi.ml-1) and blood (range: 2.7-13.4 pCi.ml-1) in samples collected from non exposed subjects. The mean concentration of tritium in urine and blood samples in non exposed subjects has been evaluated to define the levels of tritium exposure measured in exposed subjects. The mean tritium concentration in the blood of the exposed subjects considered was 186 pCi.ml-1 while the urine concentration was 170 pCi.ml-1. The data obtained are discussed to define the use of blood and/or urine as indicators of tritium internal contamination in exposed subjects. (author)