Doses from radon progeny as a source of external beta and gamma radiation

Abstract

Great deal of work has been devoted to determine doses from alpha particles emitted by 222Rn and its progeny. In contrast, contribution of beta particles and following gamma radiation to total dose has mostly been neglected so far. The present work describes a study of the detriment of 222Rn progeny for humans due to external exposure. Doses and dose conversion factors (DCFs) were determined for beta and gamma radiation in main organs and remainder tissue of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory phantom, taking into account 222Rn progeny 214Pb and 214Bi distributed in the middle of a standard or typical room with dimensions 4 m × 5 m × 2.8 m. The DCF was found to be 7.37 μSv/WLM. Skin and muscle tissue from remainder tissue receives largest dose. Beta and gamma radiation doses from external exposure were compared with alpha, beta, and gamma doses from internal exposure where the source of radioactivity was the lungs. Total doses received in all main organs and remainder tissues were obtained by summing up the doses from external and internal exposure and the corresponding DCF was found to be 20.67 μSv/WLM. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.