Dosimetric assessment of radon in a vegetable system.
An alpha-dose calculation due to radon uptake in anthers of Tradescantia, clone 4430, has been performed. Probability distribution density of the dose in the pollen mother cells was calculated by means of a model that simulates the interaction of separate alpha-particles with these cells. It is shown that alpha-radiation from either radon or its decay products surrounding the buds does not reach pollen mother cells because of the short-range alpha-particles. However, it is suggested that radon diffuses through the gap structure of the bud to the anther from which a radon-gas adsorption process takes place. Absorbed-dose calculations in the anther are discussed as well as their relationship to the experimental results of micronucleus induction in pollen mother cells. The radon concentration interval used (0.85 kBq m(-3)-98.16 kBq m(-3)) is equivalent to the exposure to an average environmental radon concentration (40 Bq m(-3)) for 2.3 months or 22.1 years, respectively. The lowest radon concentration to induce micronuclei was 12.1 kBq m(-3), which is 15 times in excess of that adopted for old buildings in Canada.
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Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo, Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas No 152, Col. San Bartolo Atepehuacan, Apdo. Postal 14-805, 07730, México, D.F., México. mltavera@imp.mx
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Villalobos-Pietrini
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Flores-Márquez
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D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D000512:Alpha Particles; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005507:Food Contamination, Radioactive; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011058:Pollen; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*; D011886:Radon; D017687:Radon Daughters; D034823:Tradescantia / Q000528:radiation effects; D014675:Vegetables
D017687:Radon Daughters; D011886:Radon