Blood and Skeletal Levels of 210Pb-210Po As a Measure of Exposure to Inhaled Radon Daughter Products

Abstract

The concentrations of 210Pb and 210Po in samples of rib and vertebra from 22 uranium miners are compared to the miners' 222Rn daughter exposures. A correction was made for the excretion of 210Pb from the skeleton during the time interval of exposure to the end of their mining experience and to the miners' death. A correlation was observed between the log of the 210Pb concentration in bone and the log of the miners' cumulative exposure adjusted for Pb excretion to the end of the mining experience, R = 0.92 (P < 0.001). More 210Pb was observed in the bone than was predictable from exposure to short-lived 222Rn daughters alone, and the possible source of this 210Pb is discussed. In addition, a linear correlation was observed between the 210Pb concentration in blood to that in the bone samples, R = 0.85 (P = 0.005). The use of blood 210Pb levels to estimate cumulative exposure in a mine atmosphere appears promising, and the possibility is discussed.