Radon sources and associated risk in terms of exposure and dose

Abstract

Radon concerns the international scientific community from the early twentieth century initially as radium emanation and nearly the second half of the century as a significan hazard to human health. The initial brilliant period of its use as medicine was followed by period of intense concern for its health effects. Miners in Europe and later in the U.S wer the primary target groups surveyed. Nowadays, there is a concrete evidence that rado and its progeny can cause lung cancer (1). Human activitiesmay create ormodify pathway increasing indoor radon concentration compared to outdoor background. These pathway can be controlled by preventive and corrective actions (2). Indoor radon and its short-live progeny either attached on aerosol particles or free, compose an air mixture that carries significant energy amount [Potential Alpha-Energy Concentration (PAEC)]. Prior research a that topic focused on the exposure on PAEC and the dose delivered by the human body o tissues. Special mention was made to the case of water workers due to inadequate data Furthermore, radon risk assessment and relevant legislation for the dose delivered by ma from radon and its progeny has been also reviewed.