Risk assessment after internal exposure to black sand from Camargue: Uptake and prospective dose calculation
Résumé
Some beaches in the south of France present high levels of natural radioactivity mainly due to thorium (Th) and uranium (U) present in the sand. Risk assessment after internal exposure of members of the public by either inhalation or ingestion of black sand of Camargue was performed. This evaluation required some information on the human bioavailability of U and Th from this sand. In vitro assays to determine the solubility of U, Th and their progeny were performed either in simulated lung fluid, with the inhalable fraction of sand, or in both simulated gastric and intestinal fluids with a sample of the whole sand. The experimental data show that the bioavailability of these radionuclides from Camargue sand is low in the conditions of the study. Prospective dose assessment for both routes of intake show low risk after internal exposure to this sand. © The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
Mots clés
thorium
uranium
silicon dioxide
article
bioavailability
controlled study
dosimetry
France
in vitro study
intestine fluid
lung fluid
radiation exposure
radiation hazard
radioactive pollution
risk assessment
sand
simulation
solubility
stomach juice
biological model
body burden
computer simulation
environmental exposure
human
methodology
radiation monitoring
risk factor
soil pollutant
whole body counting
Body Burden
Computer Simulation
Environmental Exposure
Humans
Models
Biological
Radiation Monitoring
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
Silicon Dioxide
Soil Pollutants
Radioactive
Thorium
Uranium
Whole-Body Counting