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BIOLOGICAL HALF-LIFE OF TRITIUM IN CHICKENS AND EGGS
Citation:
Mullen, A., A. Moghissi, R. Stanley, S. Lloyd, AND P. Fort. BIOLOGICAL HALF-LIFE OF TRITIUM IN CHICKENS AND EGGS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-76/050 (NTIS PB266820).
Description:
Previous studies of tritium transport in the environment suggest that although water is the main route for human intake, other routes should not be ignored. The importance of eggs as a step in the pathway for human intake of tritium was assessed by intravenously administering a single dose of tritiated water to 50 white Leghorn laying hens. Blood samples and eggs were collected from the hens for the next 17 days. The eggs were separated into the yolk and white portions and all samples were analyzed for both free water and organically bound tritium. Tritium in the blood decreased with a 4.60 plus or minus 0.26 day half-life. No significant differences were observed for the tritiated free water obtained from the white or yolk portion of the eggs. The peak activity in eggs occurred one day following administration and decreased with an average half-life of 3.65 plus or minus 0.26 days. Tritium incorporated into the organic components of egg white and yolk reached peak levels of activity at six and eight days respectively and then decreased with essentially the same half-life as the free water portion.