RADON INHALATION EXPERIMENTS TO TEST RADON EXHALATION KINETICS

Three experiments were conducted with a volunteer to test the kinetics of the 222Rn exhalation after a short-time exposure to an elevated 222Rn air concentration. Radon concentration in an exhaled air was measured, complemented by whole body counting of 222Rn decay products in a body. Exhaled activities are compared with the prediction of the recent ICRP biokinetic model for radon. While a rapid equilibration of the exhaled radon activity concentration with that in the air inhaled corresponded with the model, the measured 222Rn exhalation rate was significantly less than modelled. Five hours after termination of the inhalation phase, the radon concentration in the exhaled air decreased to levels expected for non-elevated indoor radon activity concentration. Whole body activities of the 222Rn decay products were found higher than expected. Inhalation of the unattached fraction or residual activity of decay products in the air inhaled may be the explanation.