Public exposure to 226Ra in drinking water.
This paper presents a new method for calculating the effective dose of 226Ra regularly ingested with drinking water over a long period of time. The method is based on the assessment of cumulated 226Ra activity in the fraction retained in the whole body at time t (in days) after intake [so called m(t) value]. For modelling, simulation, and visualisation of the continuous intake of 226Ra by drinking water, we used the Simulink program package integrated with the Matlab. The dose assessment was performed for 226Ra activities of 5 mBq L(-1), 50 mBq L(-1), 1000 mBq L(-1) and 5000 mBq L(-1). The results suggest that 226Ra activities above 1000 mBq L(-1) produce effective doses which are below the recommended maximum. However, the potential effect of 226Ra activities of this extent is still unknown in children.
Bronzović
Maja
M
Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia. murtar@imi.hr
Marović
Gordana
G
Vrtar
Mladen
M
D006801:Humans; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011883:Radium / Q000032:analysis*; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis*
D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive; D011883:Radium