Answer to Question #318 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

My wife—six months pregnant—has had her office moved near barrels containing ³H and ¹⁴C. How dangerous is this?

There is no hazard from the radiation given off by ³H and ¹⁴C
inside the barrels. These radionuclides are beta emitters that emit
very low energies that will not penetrate the barrels. The beta from ³H will not penetrate a sheet of paper. The beta from ¹⁴C
will not penetrate more than a several sheets of paper. The only
potential concern would be release of the materials to the air where
they could be inhaled or so that they could contaminate surfaces and
subsequently be ingested.

Gen Roessler, PhD

Editor, HPS Web Site

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