Tritium in atmospheric hydrogen

Abstract

The radioactivity of tritiated hydrogen (HT) in the atmosphere in Westwood, New Jersey was measured at approximately weekly intervals from August 1971 to August 1973. The background level remained constant at approximately 80 tritium atoms per milligram of air. Frequent increases in the activity level of up to an order of magnitude were observed until January 1973. The source(s) of HT which was responsible for the frequent increases apparently ceased as a tropospheric source in January 1973. Possible sources of HT may result from the production and storage of tritium for military purposes or from gaseous releases by the nuclear power industry.