Using the infinity lung dose as a basis of discussion, its biological
Significance may be appraised by comparison with lung doses produced by
natural occurring radioactive materials in the air (radon and thoron and their
daughter products).
These dose estimates vary due to different assumptions
as to natural air concentrations and percentages of activity retained in the
lungs, but very roughly may be 10 mrem per day.
Thus, using the example
given above for Saint George, Utah, the infinity dose was calculated as 230
mrads (or mrems in this case); the actual dose may be more than 115 mrers and
less than 230 mrems.
This is less than the dose to the lungs each month
from naturally occurring radioactive substances in the air.
4A
- lo -