A physiologically based assessment of human exposure to radon released from groundwater

Most of the indoor radon comes directly from the soil beneath the foundation of a basement. Recently, radon from groundwater was found to make some contribution to the total inhalation risk associated with radon in indoor air. This study presents a realistic exposure assessment of a human to indoor radon released from groundwater. First, the prediction of indoor radon concentration released from groundwater was based on a three-compartment model that was developed to describe the transfer and distribution of the radon released from groundwater in a house through showers, washing clothes, and flushing toilets. Second, a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for inhaled radon was developed and used to estimate tissue group concentrations in a human body. The PBPK model provides reasonable predictions of uptake, excretion, and distribution of retained radon among tissue groups in the body. Hence, the approach using the PBPK model combined with realistic indoor exposure scenarios predicts the radon concentrations in tissue groups in the body associated with the indoor radon pollution. The results obtained from the study will help increase the quantitative understanding of the risk assessment issues associated with the indoor radon released from the groundwater.