Radon lung dosimetry models

Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2011 May;145(2-3):206-12. doi: 10.1093/rpd/ncr059.

Abstract

Two different modelling approaches are currently used to calculate short-lived radon progeny doses to the lungs: the semi-empirical compartment model proposed by the International Commission on Radiological Protection and deterministic and stochastic airway generation models. The stochastic generation model IDEAL-DOSE simulates lung morphometry, transport, deposition and clearance of inhaled radionuclides, and cellular dosimetry by Monte Carlo methods. Specific dosimetric issues addressed in this paper are: (1) distributions of bronchial doses among and within bronchial airway generations; (2) relative contributions of radon progeny directly deposited in a given airway generation and those passing through from downstream generations to the bronchial dose in that generation; (3) distribution of bronchial doses among the five lobes of the human lung; (4) inhomogeneity of surface activities and resulting doses within bronchial airway bifurcations; (5) comparison of bronchial doses between non-smokers and smokers; (6) relative contributions of sensitive target cells in bronchial epithelium to lung cancer induction and (7) intra- and intersubject variations of bronchial doses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bronchi / metabolism
  • Computer Simulation
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Inhalation Exposure
  • Lung / drug effects*
  • Lung / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Models, Biological*
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Radiometry*
  • Radon / analysis*
  • Radon / pharmacokinetics*
  • Tissue Distribution

Substances

  • Radon