DOSIMETRIC AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO RADON LUNG CANCER RISK ASSESSMENT

Abstract

Abstract The two principal approaches used to assess the risk of lung cancer due to radon exposure are those based on dosimetric modelling and on epidemiology. Outline accounts are given of the main features of dosimetric models that have evolved over past decades. The main results of some occupational and residential epidemiological studies are also discussed. The doubling of the ICRP radon dose conversion factors estimated using the epidemiological based dose conversion convention in the period 1993–2010 are discussed. Also discussed is the more recent ICRP approach in which it is recommended that in future the doses should be estimated on the basis of dosimetric and biokinetic models thereby treating radon and its progeny as other radionuclides within its system of protection.