Environmental radon daughter alpha dose factors in a five-lobed human lung

Abstract

The alpha dose from 222Rn daughters per unit exposure (rad per WLM or rad per year per pCi 222Rn/m3) to basal cells in bronchial epithelium in a five-lobed human male lung is calculated. These factors are then derived for women, children and infants by scaling the dimensions of the male lung. The 222Rn daughter characteristics chosen are those typical of environmental atmospheres. Both active and resting breathing patterns are utilized in the calculations to yield the overall dose per unit exposure in typical population exposures.