Surface-deposition and distribution of the radon-decay products indoors.
The exposure to radon-decay products is of great concern both in dwellings and workplaces. The model to estimate the lung dose refers to the deposition mechanisms and particle sizes. Unfortunately, most of the dose data available are based on the measurement of radon concentration and the concentration of radon decay products. These combined measurements are widely used in spite of the fact that accurate dose assessments require information on the particle deposition mechanisms and the spatial distribution of radon decay products indoors. Most of the airborne particles and/or radon decay products are deposited onto indoor surfaces, which deposition makes the radon decay products unavailable for inhalation. These deposition processes, if properly known, could be successfully exploited to reduce the exposure to radon decay products. In spite of the importance of the surface deposition of the radon decay products, both for the correct evaluation of the dose and for reducing the exposure; little or no efforts have been made to investigate these deposition processes. Recently, two parallel investigations have been carried out in Rome and at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) in Mexico City respectively, which address the issue of the surface-deposited radon decay products. Even though these investigations have been carried independently, they complement one another. It is with these considerations in mind that it was decided to report both investigations in the same paper.
Instituto de Física, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México, Circuito de la Investigación Científica, Ciudad Universitaria, 04520 México, D.F., Mexico. Electronic address: espinosa@fisica.unam.mx.
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Espinosa
Italian Agency for Environmental Protection, Via Cassia 1727, 00123 Roma, Italy.
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Tommasino
D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D000398:Air Pollution, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D006798:Housing; D008800:Mexico; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011886:Radon / Q000032:analysis*; D017687:Radon Daughters / Q000032:analysis; D012384:Rome
D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D017687:Radon Daughters; D011886:Radon
Nuclear Tracks Detectors; Radon; Surface deposition; Thoron