Kinetic isotope effect effects, while "k"/"k" ~ 1.15-1.3 are typical for β secondary kinetic isotope effect. For reactants containing several isotopically-substituted β-hydrogen atoms, the observed isotope effect is often the result of several H/D's at the β position acting in concert. In these cases, the effect of each isotopically-labeled atom is multiplicative, and cases where "k"/"k" > 2 are not uncommon. The following simple expressions relating deuterium and tritium kinetic isotope effects, which are also known as the Swain equation (or the Swain-Schaad-Stivers equations), can be derived from the general expression given above using some simplifications: i.e., In deriving these expressions, the reasonable
Radioactive contamination from the Rocky Flats Plant caused by normal operations rather than accidental releases. From September 1947 to April 1969 there were 5 or more accidental surface water releases of tritium. Tritium, a radioactive element which was found in scrap material from Rocky Flats, was therefore directed in to the Great Western Reservoir. This was uncovered in 1973 and following this, urine samples were taken from people living or working near Broomfield who could have drunk water from the reservoir. The findings of the samples showed that those who were exposed to contaminated water had tritium concentrations near seven times higher than normal (4,300 picocuries per