Indoor thoron: A review
- Southwest Missouri State Univ., Springfield, MO (United States)
Thoron ({sup 220}Rn) and its progeny are ubiquitous in the lower atmosphere and are often found in indoor air at levels comparable to those of radon ({sup 222}Rn) and its progeny. The effective dose equivalent delivered per unit of potential alpha energy concentration of thoron (PAEC(Tn)) is estimated to be about 20-30% of that from radon (PAEC(Rn)). If the same assumptions used to estimate lung-cancer deaths from radon are applied to thoron, up to 4,000 deaths annually in the U.S. could be attributable to indoor thoron. In spite of this, relatively few studies of thoron and its progeny in indoor air have been reported. This review summarizes the literature on indoor thoron. References are cited for investigations of sources, concentrations, temporal variations, dependence on meteorological parameters, effects of ventilation and air treatment devices, methods of measurement, and health risks arising from thoron and its progeny.
- OSTI ID:
- 390656
- Journal Information:
- Radioactivity and Radiochemistry, Journal Name: Radioactivity and Radiochemistry Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 4; ISSN 1045-845X; ISSN RARAE6
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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