EFFECTS OF RADIATIONDOE-HDBK-1015/2-93Reactor Water ChemistryON WATER CHEMISTRY (SYNTHESIS)CH-03Rev. 0Page 10Two other nuclear reactions with oxygen isotopes are shown below.O (p, n) F (t= 112 minutes)1818891/2O (p, ) N (t= 10 minutes)1613871/2An ejected alpha particle is indicated by . The protons that cause these reactions result frominelastic collisions of fast neutrons with hydrogen atoms in water molecules. The radioactivitylevels of these isotopes are much lower than the levels of N and N during reactor facility161777operation. However, during the period from a few minutes to about five hours after reactorshutdown or after removing a coolant sample from the system, N and F are the principal131879sources of radioactivity in the reactor coolant of most reactor facilities.N C + 1313076+1F O + 1818098+1The only significant nuclear reaction that occurs with hydrogen involves deuterium ( H), which21comprises about 0.015 percent of natural hydrogen.H (n, ) H (t= 12.3 years)23111/2Tritium ( H) decays by emission of a very weak particle (0.02 Mev) and no gamma rays.31Thus, tritium is not a radiological hazard unless it enters the body in significant amounts.Tritium can enter the body through inhalation or ingestion. It is also possible to absorb formsof tritium through the skin.
Integrated Publishing, Inc. - A (SDVOSB) Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business