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The radioactive decay product of tritium is a low energy beta that cannot penetrate the outer dead layer of human skin. Therefore, the main hazard associated with tritium is internal exposure from inhalation or ingestion. In addition, due to the relatively long half life and short biological half life, an intake of tritium must be in large amounts to pose a significant health risk.
Tritium is used in some self-illuminating exit signs to light the exit in the event of an electrical outage or a fire. Signs often have several curies of tritium in them. If the exit signs were severely damaged, HT gas might escape into the local area, but it should be dispersed by ventilation or wind quickly. The damaged sign would be expected to have relatively high levels of tritium on it, and should not be handled without gloves.
The risks from tritium are small, due mostly to:
1. it is a low energy beta emitter;
2. chemically behaves like water in the body (forms HTO or T2O - water);
3. has a 12.3 year half-life.
While not impossible, a large enough dose to cause any significant harm to a person is unlikely. It is a hazard, and should be treated like any other. Some basic precautions can minimize the risks, such as not handling a broken sign or sight with bare hands, ventilating an area where tritium is stored and proper disposal of used or damage tritium objects.
Originally posted by ludshed
Interesting, tritium is an element in the heavy metal/radioactive isotope category. I would imagine some of you have trace amounts in your house right now. It is whats used in c-more, tru-glo and meprolite sights for weapons. Half life of 12 years, allows you to see your aim right out of the drawer in the middle of the night. More disturbing is what else it's used for, it is the primary trigger mechanism in a nuclear fission bomb. If you were going to try something massive (false flag) signs and night sights would be the most readily available means of acquiring it "off the radar".