Radon emanation in Saskatchewan soils.

Saskatchewan prairie soils in central Canada were studied from areas where many homes are known to exceed the Health Canada indoor radon guideline of 200 Bq m. This study sampled 32 soils from 11 sites, which varied in clay content and presence of bedrock materials. Soils were analyzed for (238)U, (226)Ra, (222)Rn in soil gas, bulk density, moisture, and particle size.

Relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of alpha radiation in cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells.

Purpose: Northern peoples can receive elevated radiation doses (1- 10 mSv/y) from transfer of polonium-210 (210Po) through the lichen-caribou-human food chain. Ingested 210Po is primarily blood-borne and thus many of its short range alpha particles irradiate the endothelial cells lining the blood vessels. The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of alpha particles vs.