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Abstract
Assessment of relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for α radiation in the cases of inhalation of radon progeny and incorporation of plutonium in lung is based on simulation of lung cancer radiation risk for alpha and external reference types of radiation. Specific radiation risk models developed on the results of direct epidemiological studies are used for simulation. These include published risk models for nuclear workers of the Mayak facilities in the former Soviet Union exposed to incorporated plutonium (CitationKreisheimer et al., 2003; CitationGilbert et al., 2004) and underground miners exposed to radon progenies (CitationBEIR VI, 1999). Additionally, a lung cancer risk model is developed for a case of population indoor radon exposure. Lung cancer risk related to external exposure is estimated using the risk model developed for the analyses of Japanese atomic bomb survivors (CitationPreston et al., 2003). Uncertainties of risk models parameters are considered and the uncertainties of RBE are estimated using the results of lifetime lung cancer risk simulation, which is done implementing a Monte Carlo approach. Estimated median value of RBE in case of indoor radon exposure is 1.5 with 90% range 0.4–7. In the case of the two models developed by BEIR VI for lung cancer risk due to radon exposure in underground miners, the median values of RBE are 2.1 and 4.4 with 90% ranges 0.3–17 and 0.7–45, respectively. The two different models for lung cancer risk related to plutonium exposure resulted in close estimates of RBE: median value of 12 and 13 with 90% range 4–104 and 4–136, respectively.
This report makes use of data obtained from the Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF), Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. RERF is a private, nonprofit foundation funded by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare and the U.S. Department of Energy, the latter through the National Academy of Sciences. The conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the scientific judgment of RERF or its funding agencies.
Notes
This report makes use of data obtained from the Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF), Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. RERF is a private, nonprofit foundation funded by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare and the U.S. Department of Energy, the latter through the National Academy of Sciences. The conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the scientific judgment of RERF or its funding agencies.