title: Development and application of a complex numerical model and software for the computation of dose conversion factors for radon progenies.
abstract: A more exact determination of dose conversion factors associated with radon progeny inhalation was possible due to the advancements in epidemiological health risk estimates in the last years. The enhancement of computational power and the development of numerical techniques allow computing dose conversion factors with increasing reliability. The objective of this study was to develop an integrated model and software based on a self-developed airway deposition code, an own bronchial dosimetry model and the computational methods accepted by International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) to calculate dose conversion coefficients for different exposure conditions. The model was tested by its application for exposure and breathing conditions characteristic of mines and homes. The dose conversion factors were 8 and 16 mSv WLM(-1) for homes and mines when applying a stochastic deposition model combined with the ICRP dosimetry model (named PM-A model), and 9 and 17 mSv WLM(-1) when applying the same deposition model combined with authors' bronchial dosimetry model and the ICRP bronchiolar and alveolar-interstitial dosimetry model (called PM-B model). User friendly software for the computation of dose conversion factors has also been developed. The software allows one to compute conversion factors for a large range of exposure and breathing parameters and to perform sensitivity analyses.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Energy Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1525, Budapest, PO Box 49, Konkoly-Thege Miklós út 29-33, Budapest 1121, Hungary farkas.arpad@energia.mta.hu.
authors.forename: Árpád
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Farkas
authors.affiliation: Centre for Energy Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1525, Budapest, PO Box 49, Konkoly-Thege Miklós út 29-33, Budapest 1121, Hungary.
authors.forename: Imre
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Balásházy
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008906:Mining; D008954:Models, Biological; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D011835:Radiation Protection; D017687:Radon Daughters / Q000032:analysis*; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000528:radiation effects; D012984:Software
chemical_list: D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D017687:Radon Daughters