Tritium is best described as which type of hazard?

• A. Internal Hazard
• B. Internal Hazard (Tritium)
• C. External Hazard
• D. Environmental Hazard

Answer: (B)

When evaluating radiation hazards, the key distinction is where the dose originates: inside the body or from outside it. Tritium is a radioactive form of hydrogen that can become part of body water or bind to organic molecules. If it enters the body through inhalation, ingestion, or absorption, it irradiates tissues from within, which is the main risk to a person handling it. External exposure from tritium is minimal because the beta particles it emits have very low penetrating power and can’t reach the internal organs easily. So the most accurate classification is an internal hazard: tritium poses the primary danger when it is inside the body. Environmental concerns exist, but they describe broader impacts rather than the specific hazard type for an individual.