Organically bound tritium (OBT) behaviour and analysis: outcomes of the seminar held in Balaruc-les-Bains in May 2012

Within the last ten years there has been increasing interest in tritium behaviour and distribution in the environment. This is based partly on empirical findings that tritium discharged mostly as HTO can become transformed into organic forms in environmental samples. An international workshop was convened in France in 2012 to gather the scientific community interested in organically bound tritium to share their experience and to establish a current state of knowledge. This paper summarises the outcome of the workshop, which aimed to improve skills concerning OBT (Organically Bound Tritium) determination, transfer and behaviour in the environment. In order to improve OBT measurement credibility, it was decided to conduct and promote OBT analysis through inter-laboratory exercises. This practice will reduce uncertainty in OBT analysis results, providing better OBT model validation data and public dose assessments. (authors)