Measurement of the biotransfer and time constant of radon from ingested water by human breath analysis
Forty-one tests were performed on 38 volunteers to measure elimination rates of (222)Rn in expired breath. Participants ranged from ages 9 to 85 y, with 16 males and 22 females. The levels of physical activity of the subjects ranged from very inactive to marathon level. Calibration of the flow-through scintillation cell was accomplished using a medical ventilator and (222)Rn reservoir for 5-15 L/min flow rates. The authors found a wide range of percent elimination (12-68%) in 30 min. The percent elimination has a mild correlation with the predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s and with time passed since eating. Their observations of bio-retention half-times range from 17-400 min. The whole-body dose calculations yield a mean of 2.70 + or - 3.43 nGy/Bq, and the stomach dose calculations yield a mean of 276 + or - 186 nGy/Bq. These means range beyond those previously reported. (Copyright (c) 1992 Health Physics Society.)
- Research Organization:
- Maine Univ., Orono, ME (United States). Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
- OSTI ID:
- 7066353
- Report Number(s):
- PB-92-189026/XAB; CNN: EPA-R-815156
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Pub. in Health Physics, v62 n2 p162-170 Feb 92. Sponsored by Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Radon-222 and its short-lived decay products in attached and free-ion forms in the atmosphere
Characterizing the occurrence, sources, and variability of radon in pacific northwest homes
Related Subjects
RADON 222
METABOLISM
STOMACH
RADIATION DOSES
BIOLOGICAL HALF-LIFE
DRINKING WATER
INGESTION
RETENTION
SCINTILLATION COUNTING
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DOSES
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
HEAVY NUCLEI
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INTAKE
ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ORGANS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIOISOTOPES
RADON ISOTOPES
WATER
560161* - Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology- Man