Radon Solubility and Diffusion in the Skin Surface Layer

Akihiro Sakoda, Tsuyoshi Ishida, Norie Kanzaki, Hiroshi Tanaka, Takahiro Kataoka, Fumihiro Mitsunobu and Kiyonori Yamaoka
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Akihiro Sakoda: Ningyo-toge Environmental Engineering Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, 1550 Kamisaibara, Kagamino-cho, Tomata-gun, Okayama 708-0698, Japan
Tsuyoshi Ishida: Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University, 5-1 Shikata-cho 2-chome, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
Norie Kanzaki: Ningyo-toge Environmental Engineering Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, 1550 Kamisaibara, Kagamino-cho, Tomata-gun, Okayama 708-0698, Japan
Hiroshi Tanaka: Ningyo-toge Environmental Engineering Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, 1550 Kamisaibara, Kagamino-cho, Tomata-gun, Okayama 708-0698, Japan
Takahiro Kataoka: Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University, 5-1 Shikata-cho 2-chome, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
Fumihiro Mitsunobu: Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 5-1 Shikata-cho 2-chome, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
Kiyonori Yamaoka: Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University, 5-1 Shikata-cho 2-chome, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 13, 1-12

Abstract: In specific situations such as bathing in a radon spa, where the radon activity concentration in thermal water is far higher than that in air, it has been revealed that radon uptake via skin can occur and should be considered for more precise dose evaluation. The primary aim of the present study was to numerically demonstrate the distribution as well as the degree of diffusion of radon in the skin, with a focus on its surface layer (i.e., stratum corneum). We developed a biokinetic model that included diffusion theory at the stratum corneum, and measured radon solubility in that tissue layer as a crucial parameter. The implementation of the model suggested that the diffusion coefficient in the stratum corneum was as low as general radon-proof sheets. After a 20-min immersion in water, the simulated depth profile of radon in the skin showed that the radon activity concentration at the top surface skin layer was approximately 10 3 times higher than that at the viable skin layer. The information on the position of radon as a radiation source would contribute to special dose evaluation where specific target cell layers are assumed for the skin.

Keywords: radon; partition coefficient; diffusion; biokinetic model; skin; sebaceous lipids; stratum corneum; viable skin (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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