Betavoltaic device assessment and product development. Naturally, this increases both time-to-market and the already high cost associated with tritium. A 2007 report by the UK government's Health Protection Agency Advisory Group on Ionizing Radiation declared the health risks of tritium exposure to be double those previously set by the International Commission on Radiological Protection located in Sweden. Betavoltaic device Betavoltaic devices, also known as betavoltaic cells, are generators of electric current, in effect a form of battery, which use energy from a radioactive source emitting beta particles (electrons). A common source used is the hydrogen isotope tritium. Unlike most nuclear power sources,
Tritium boron, cadmium, or hafnium), at the reactors of the commercial Watts Bar Nuclear Generating Station from 2003–2005 followed by extraction of tritium from the rods at the new Tritium Extraction Facility at the Savannah River Site beginning in November 2006. Tritium leakage from the rods during reactor operations limits the number that can be used in any reactor without exceeding the maximum allowed tritium levels in the coolant. Tritium has an atomic mass of 3.0160492 u. Diatomic tritium ( or ) is a gas at standard temperature and pressure. Combined with oxygen, it forms a liquid called tritiated water ().