Correlation of Radiation Exposure and Lead-210 in Uranium Miners

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Abstract
Bone samples from 32 uranium miners and 8 non-miners were analyzed for Pb210 content. An estimate of cumulative radiation exposure to radon decay products in uranium mines was made for each man and correlated with his bone Pb210, both before and after adjustments for excretion were made. There is a definite correlation between exposure and bone Pb210 as measured, but the correlation is somewhat better when adjustment for lead excretion is made. The concentration of Pb210 in the bone of uranium miners is related to cumulative exposure (expressed as Working Level Months [WLM]) by a power function pCi/g = 4.27 x 105 (WLM)1.439. By using a number of reasonable assumptions, it was possible to calculate back from the bone Pb210 to determine the amount of radon daughters inhaled and retained, and from this to calculate radiation dosage delivered to bronchial tissue. These calculations indicate that 1 Working Level Month delivers approximately 2 rad to bronchial tissue.