
Doses
to Organs and Tissues - From
Radon and its Decay Products
UK National Radiological Protection Board, Published in Journal
of Radiological Protection (2002)
Under normal circumstances, the largest dose from radon and its
decay products will be that to the lung, delivered by the decay products
rather than radon gas. This suggests that, when considering the radiological
impact of radon and its decay products, the conventional focus on
the risk of lung cancer from inhaled radon decay products is appropriate.
Nevertheless, calculations suggest that the dose to the basal layers
of the skin may also be high, with a consequent possible risk of
skin cancer. Unless countermeasures are taken, a smaller number of
people may also run a significant risk of stomach cancer from radon
ingested in drinking water. Doses to other organs and tissues are
smaller, though not necessarily negligible. The results presented
here allow these risks to be quantified and compared.