Transfer of tritium from the effluents to the biological cycle

The influence of gaseous or liquid tritium effluents in various chemical forms on the large part of the environment is studied. The major importance is given in particular to the transfer of tritium in the ecosystem constituents as well as the metabolism of this radionuclide in some part of the human food chain. It appears more particularly that: 1. the bahaviour of tritium in the vegetal matter is about the same for exposures to the vapour or to tritiated water; 2. the mean residence time of the terrestrial ecosystem is shown to be influenced by the soil conditions; 3. there is a significant incorporation of tritium in the aquatic biota and the sediments in the organic bond form. (author)