Radionuclide Doses to Infants and Children

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Abstract
The variation in the average dose from an internally deposited radionuclide with the radionuclide, its chemical form and route of administration is fairly well known. Maximum permissible dose levels are normally based upon the administration of a given quantity of radionuclide to “standard man”, a hypothetical adult of average weight and height, as well as chemical composition. This study considers dose levels for infants and children. A series of standard children of various ages was derived by supplementing values of the fiftieth percentile for heights and weights of certain ages with pertinent information on organ weights and physiology. Age groups selected for this study include: newborn, 1, 5, 10 and 15 years old. Average absorption doses in mrad/μc administered were then calculated for the whole body and/or critical organ using the general beta and gamma dose formulae. The average whole body doses ranged from 10 to 20 times greater in the newborn than standard man for a given quantity of administered radioactivity. Furthermore, since infants and children breathe more air on a per weight basis than an adult and since their water intake is also greater on a per weight basis, maximum permissible concentration guides based upon standard man do not apply to younger individuals.

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