Kerosene heater, aerosol

TABLE IV. Alpha Dose in mGy/WLM for Males. Kerosene Heater Aerosol. Breathing Pattern and Specific Conditions,... 

Particle size is a major factor which determines the alpha dose conversion factor for radon daughters (mGy/WLM). Data on indoor environments are emerging and indicate that a variety of specific conditions exist. For example, a dose factor four times that for a nominal occupational or environmental exposure exists if kerosene heater particles dominate the indoor aerosol and four times smaller if a hygroscopic particle dominates. 

It is important to update the bronchial dosimetry for radon daughters as new information becomes available. It is the purpose of this study to show that there is a potential for either significantly increased bronchial dose in the home per unit exposure if the ambient particle size is artificially reduced due, for example, to open-flame burning or use of kerosene heaters, or a decreased dose if hygroscopic particles dominate the indoor aerosol. 

Table II shows the nominal alpha dose factors for occupational mining exposure. Table III shows the alpha dose factors for the nominal environmental situation. Table IV shows the bronchial dose factors for the smallest sized particles, that dominated by the kerosene heater or 0.03 pm. particles. The radon daughter equilibrium was shifted to a somewhat higher value in this calculation because this source of particles generally elevates the particle concentration markedly with consequent increase in the daughter equilibrium. Table V shows the alpha dose for a 0.12 pm particle, the same as the nominal indoor aerosol particle, but for a particle which is assumed to be hygroscopic and grows by a factor of 4, to 0.5 pm, once in the bronchial tree.

Cheng, Y.S., Y. Zhou, J. Chow, J. Watson, and C. Frazier. 2001. Chemical composition of aerosol from kerosene heaters burning jet fuels. Aerosol. Sci. Technol. 35 949-957. 

Leaderer, B. P., P. M. Boone, and S. K. Hammond, Total Particle, Sulfate, and Acidic Aerosol Emissions from Kerosene Space Heaters, Environ. Sci. Technol., 24, 908-912(1990). 

---