Relationship Between the 210Pb Content of Teeth and Exposure to Rn and Rn Daughters

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Abstract
Existing data on 210Pb in human teeth were reviewed for various countries. The mean value of 210Pb in the teeth of population groups exposed to normal levels of Rn daughter exposure was .apprx. 2 mBq/g. A detailed analysis of 48 samples from a normal Italian population group revealed that smoking habits and age may have had some influence on 210Pb content of teeth, while this was not the case for differences in sex. A group of 45 Austrians exposed to elevated levels of Rn and Rn daughters was compared with the Italian group. After subtraction of background levels of 210Pb as found for the normal Italian population, the incremental 210Pb tooth content due to excessive Rn daughter exposure was correlated with the individual cumulative exposure corrected for background Rn daughter exposure. A statistical analysis showed the significance of the linear correlation at the .alpha. = 0.01 level. For the incremental increase of 210Pb in teeth, a value of 1.2 mBq/g was used for a lifetime exposure to 1 WLM [working level months]. This result was compared to corresponding data published in the literature, which were predominantly related to the 210Pb content of bone after short-time exposure at high levels, e.g., in U mines. The comparison seemed to indicate the influence of the exposure rate and the need for a comprehensive model, which took into account Rn daughter inhalation, Rn dissolved in body fluids and 210Pb mechaniam.

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