Question for those who work with Tritium:

M'Bob · Sep 29, 2020

Just curious to the watchmakers or hobbyists that find themselves regularly working with Tritium: do you routinely wear face masks, or feel that the amounts are so small, and the hands /dials often intact, to make this unwarranted?

I just don’t know enough about this, but if it looks intact, does that means there’s not appreciable dust? And I would assume that the concern also drops if many half-lives have elapsed?

mac_omega · Sep 29, 2020

I would not worry about problems due to tritium dust, but its always good to protect yourself against inhalation of the dust

JwRosenthal · Sep 29, 2020

mac_omega
I would not worry about problems due to tritium dust, but its always good to protect yourself against inhalation of the dust

And don't lick it!!!

Vintagewtchzilla · Sep 30, 2020

JwRosenthal
And don't lick it!!!

but it makes the tongue funny glowing in the dark 😝

padders · Sep 30, 2020

M'Bob
And I would assume that the concern also drops if many half-lives have elapsed?

Yep massively so. The half life is only 12.3 years so the oldest tritium (first used ~1962) is now nearly 5 half lives old and thus only 3% as potent as it was when new*. The newest is ~23 years old or 2 half lives so only 25% as active. It emits mostly beta which isn’t as damaging as the other forms in low doses anyhow, particularly when ingested. If you must lick a dial (or inhale dust) pick tritium over Radium which remains a strong Alpha emitter.

*this is basically at background level. I doubt you could measure this outside of a Uni lab. Any tritium lume watch before ~1985 poses v little risk IMO.

Seaborg · Sep 30, 2020

Most of tritium is already gone (decayed) due to its half-life 👍

eugeneandresson · Sep 30, 2020

You starting a new business venture Bob?

joe band · Sep 30, 2020

eugeneandresson
You starting a new business venture Bob?

glow-in-the-dark mustache wax, total future blockbuster, and just in tine for xmas!

M'Bob · Sep 30, 2020

J joe band
glow-in-the-dark mustache wax, total future blockbuster, and just in tine for xmas!

Fantastic!

Question for those who work with Tritium:

M'Bob

mac_omega

JwRosenthal

Vintagewtchzilla

padders

Seaborg

eugeneandresson

joe band

M'Bob

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