Editing Fermilab (section)

===Tritium on site===
During running, particle beams produce [[tritium]], an isotope of hydrogen consisting of a proton and two neutrons that is weakly radioactive with a half-life of 12.3 years. This can bind with oxygen to form [[tritiated water]]. Tritium levels measured on site are low compared to federal health and environmental standards. Fermilab monitors tritium leaving the site in surface and sewer water, and provides an FAQ sheet for those who want to learn more.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tritium at Fermilab |url=https://www.fnal.gov/pub/tritium/index.html |publisher=Fermilab |access-date=April 13, 2022}}</ref>

At an informational meeting for potential bidders for the management contract, held on March 1, 2023, the presentation slides indicated that although the rate of tritium leaving site is below the required standards, there is sufficient tritium contamination on site to represent a "challenge".<ref name=rebid />  In particular, tritium produced in the NuMI beamline that sends neutrinos to experiments in Minnesota has been pumped into the industrial water cooling system that is used for equipment across the Fermilab campus.  As a result, it is concluded that now "tritium contamination is largely throughout the research complex."<ref name=rebid />