Cancer fatalities from waterborne radon (Rn-222)
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (USA)
A model of the biokinetics of radon in the human body following ingestion is developed from existing data. Calculations of the probability of cancer fatality from use of radon-laden water in the home then are presented. The pathways of emanation and ingestion are examined and shown to lead to roughly equal risks. The probability of fatal cancer resulting from lifetime use of water at a radon concentration of 1 pCi/L is shown to be 1 {times} 10(-6), with a reasonable range between 2 {times} 10(-7) and 5 {times} 10(-6). The allowed concentration consistent with an excess risk of 10(-4) then is approximately 100 pCi/L, which is exceeded in a significant fraction of U.S. water supplies. The lifetime number of premature deaths due to waterborne radon in the U.S. is estimated to lie between 5000 and 125,000, with a best estimate of 25,000.
- OSTI ID:
- 5395492
- Journal Information:
- Risk Analysis; (United States), Vol. 11:1; ISSN 0272-4332
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
NEOPLASMS
RADIOINDUCTION
RADON 222
CARCINOGENESIS
WATER SUPPLY
CONTAMINATION
BIOLOGICAL HALF-LIFE
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
INGESTION
PROBABILITY
RADIATION DOSES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DISEASES
DOSES
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
HEAVY NUCLEI
INTAKE
ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
PATHOGENESIS
RADIOISOTOPES
RADON ISOTOPES
560161* - Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology- Man