Comparative dosimetry in homes and mines: estimation of K-factors

Abstract

Publisher Summary K-factors are used to estimate the risk per unit exposure to radon progeny in homes from the observed risk to miners per unit exposure in mines on the assumption that the risk of excess lung cancer is directly proportional to the equivalent dose to the lung. Comparative dosimetry has been carried out to estimate values of the so-called K-factors. The K-factor is defined as the ratio of the equivalent dose to the lung per working level month (WLM) in homes to that in mines. The dosimetry was carried out using the ICRP Publication 66 Human Respiratory Tract Model (HRTM). Model parameter values that have been published and recommended by several prominent European scientists were used in the calculations. The estimated K-factor values for a typical home without smokers vary between 0.8 and 1.0 depending upon age group. The values for a home with smokers present are slightly lower ranging between 0.7 and 0.8 for different age groups.