INCORPORATION OF TRITIUM FROM WRIST WATCHES

Watches are consumer products and are subject to the regulations that control food and consumer products. Elevated concentrations of tritium were found in the urine of persons who wore wrist watches with lumino us dials and plastic cases. High emissions of tritium from these watch es were observed. In an experiment, a volunteer wore a watch with high emissions and the build-up of the tritium concentration in urine was monitored as well as the decline after removing the watch. Possible pa thways for the incorporation and its mechanism are considered. In spit e of the relatively high activity concentrations observed, the dose is negligible. On the other hand, the principle ''ALARA'' can be achieve d without any costs by simply choosing other types of watches.