Concentrations of 210Pb and its states of equilibrium with 238U, 234U and 230Th in U miners' lungs.
The concentrations of 210Pb and its states of equilibrium with 238U, 234U and 230Th in U miners' lungs obtained at autopsy are reported. The concentration of 210Pb ranged from 0.63 to 123 Bq/kg wet weight with an average of 32.7 Bq/kg. The 210Pb concentrations were almost seven times higher than the concentrations of 238U, 234U and 230Th. The radiation dose rates to U miners' lungs from 210Po alone ranged from 0.017 to 3.30 mGy/y with an average of 0.88 mGy/y. The dose rates from 238U, 234U and 230Th combined ranged from 6.8 X 10(-3) to 7.2 X 10(-1) mGy/y with an average of 2.9 X 10(-1) mGy/y. The dose rates from all alpha-emitting members of the 238U series, excluding 210Po, varied from 1.1 X 10(-2) to 2.2 mGy/y with an average of 7.5 X 10(-1) mGy/y.
D000368:Aged; D001344:Autopsy; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D008168:Lung / Q000032:analysis* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D013910:Thorium / Q000032:analysis*; D014501:Uranium / Q000032:analysis*
D011868:Radioisotopes; D007854:Lead; D014501:Uranium; D013910:Thorium