Respiratory tract dose calculation considering physiological parameters from samples of Brazilian population

The Human Respiratory Tract Model (HRTM) proposed by ICRP in its Publication 66 accounts for the morphology and physiology of the respiratory tract. The ICRP 66 presents deposition fraction in the respiratory tract regions considering reference values from Caucasian man. However, in order to obtain a more accurate assessment of intake and dose the ICRP recommends the use of specific information when they are available. The application of parameters from Brazilian population in the deposition and in the clearance model shows significant variations in the deposition fractions and in the fraction of inhaled activity transferred to blood. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the influence in dose calculation to each region of the respiratory tract when physiological parameters from samples of Brazilian population are applied in the deposition model. The dosimetric model of HRTM was implemented in the software EXCEL for Windows (version 2000) and committed equivalent dose was calculated. (author)