Radon Dosimetry

Inhaled radon (222Rn) progeny are the most important source of irradiation of the human respiratory tract. Epidemiological studies of underground miners of uranium and other minerals have provided reasonably firm estimates of the risk of lung cancer associated with exposure to radon progeny. It is well established that the absorbed radon dose in the lung is mainly due to radon progeny, but not the radon gas itself. Therefore, long-term measurements of the concentrations of radon progeny or the equilibrium factor F, the size distribution of radon progeny and the unattached fraction fp of the potential alpha energy concentration are needed to accurately assess the health hazards contribution from radon progeny.
Resources
Book chapter: Nikezic, D., Yu, K.N., "Computer Simulation of Radon Measurements with Nuclear Track Detectors", 2007, in Computer Physics Research Trends, Ed. S. J. Bianco, (Nova Science Publishers: New York), p. 119-150. (download pdf version) (purchase book)
Book chapter: Yu, K.N., Nikezic, D., "Long-Term Measurements of Radon Progeny Concentrations with Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors", 2009, in Nuclear Track Detectors: Design, Methods and Applications, Eds. Maksim Sidorov and Oleg Ivanov, (Nova Science Publishers: New York) p. 107-131. (download pdf version) (purchase book)
Review paper: Yu, K.N., Lau, B.M.F., Nikezic, D., "Assessment of Environmental Radon Hazard Using Human Respiratory Tract Models", 2006, Journal of Hazardous Materials, 132, 98-110. (download pdf version).

Invited talk (22 ICNTS, Barcelona 2004): Yu, K.N., Nikezic, D., Ng, F.M.F., Leung, J.K.C., "Long-term Measurements of Radon Progeny Concentrations with Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors", 2005, Radiation Measurements, 40, 560-568. (download pdf version).

Invited talk (23 ICNTS, Beijing 2006): Yu, K.N., Leung, S.Y.Y., Nikezic, D., Leung, J.K.C., "Equilibrium factor determination using SSNTDs", 2008, Radiation Measurements, 43 (Suppl. 1), S357-S363. (download pdf version).

 

Dosimetric Modeling

The epidemiology of lung cancer of uranium miners, when projected onto lung cancer of the Japanese survivors of the atomic bombs, shows a Dose Conversion Coefficient (DCC) of 4 mSv per WLM. If, however, the effective radiation dose due to radon progeny, typifying underground uranium mines, is calculated, the DCC is around 15 mSv per WLM. We attempted to resolve the discrepancy, including trying to understand a less serious one, that between calculated DCC's for homes and mines. Our studies included the effects of morphometry models, regional lung deposition models, and the consideration of bifurcation regions of the human tracheo-bronchial tree. 
  Publications
  • Yu, K.N., Cheung, T.T.K., Haque, A.K.M.M., Nikezic, D., Lau, B.M.F., Vucic, D., "Radon Progeny Dose Conversion Coefficients for Chinese Males and Females", 2001, Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 56(3), 327-340.
  •  Yu, K.N., Wong, B.T.Y., Law, J.Y.P., Lau, B.M.F., Nikezic, D., "Indoor Dose Conversion Coefficients for Radon Progeny for Different Ambient Environments", 2001, Environmental Science and Technology, 35, 2136-2140.
  • Nikezic, D., Yu, K.N., Vucic, D., "Absorbed Fraction and Dose Conversion Coefficients of Alpha Particles for Radon Dosimetry", 2001, Physics in Medicine and Biology, 46, 1963 - 1974.
  • Nikezic, D., Haque, A.K.M.M., Yu, K.N., "Absorbed dose delivered by alpha particles calculated in cylindrical geometry", 2002, Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 60, 293-305.
  • Nikezic, D., Haque, A.K.M.M., Yu, K.N., "Effects of different deposition models on the calculated dose conversion factors from 222Rn progeny", 2002, Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 61, 305-318.
  • Nikezic, D., Yu, K.N., "Quality factors for alpha particles in the human respiratory tract", 2003, Health Physics, 84, 652-654.
  • Nikezic, D., Yu, K.N., "Absorbed fraction of alpha particles emitted in bifurcation regions of the human tracheo-bronchial tree", 2003, Radiation and Environmental Biophysics, 42, 49-53.
  • Nikezic, D., Novakovic, B., Yu, K.N., "Absorbed Fraction of Radon Progeny in Human Bronchial Airways with Bifurcation Geometry", 2003, International Journal of Radiation Biology, 79, 175-180.
  • Yu, K.N., Nikezic, D., "Letter to the Editor: Radon-222 signatures of natural ventilation regimes in an underground quarry", 2005, Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 78, 247-248.
  • Nikezic, D., Yu, K.N., "Are radon gas measurements adequate for epidemiological studies and case control studies of radon induced lung cancer?", 2005, Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 113, 233-235.
  • Yu, K.N., Lau, B.M.F., Nikezic, D., "Assessment of Environmental Radon Hazard Using Human Respiratory Tract Models", 2006, Journal of Hazardous Materials, 132, 98-110. 
  • Nikezic, D., Lau, B.M.F., Yu, K.N., "Comparison of dose conversion factors for radon progeny from the ICRP 66 regional model and an airway tube model of tracheobronchial tree", 2006, Radiation and Environmental Biophysics, 45, 153-157.
 

Microdosimetry

  

Back to Radon Dosimetry page

Nuclear Radiation Unit
Department of Physics and Materials Science
City University of Hong Kong
Tat Chee Ave, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
Email: apnru@cityu.edu.hk

 

Page last modified on 31-Dec-2012

Privacy Policy - Copyright - Disclaimer

 

 

Back to main menu