Radon in urine

["Moroney, Roger W" <WRMoroe@MKG.com>]

Recently, while working with an individual with In-111 skin
contamination, I noticed a very prominent radon daughter spectrum in the
worker's urine sample. Based on the concentrations in uCi/cc from this
one urine sample, could some one give me a ballpark idea of what the
concentration in his home may be? Would it come from radon in water or
in air? I explained to the worker what I found and asked what type of
house he lived in. It is a 30 year old frame structure with a basement.
He did not appear to have any stonework inside.
Pb-214 : 8.112E-3 uCi/cc
Bi-214 : 2.563E-2 uCi/cc

These are from a 5cc sample counted on an HPGe detector for 1000s
approximately 90 minutes after it was given.
I do not know much about the radon side of things so any assistance
would be greatly appreciated. While I don't routinely count all urine
samples on the HPGe, I have never seen anywhere near these high of
results before.

Oh, and by the way, there wasn't any In-111 in the urine.
Roger Moroney
Radiation Specialist
Mallinckrodt Nuclear Medicine
wrmoroe@mkg.com
314.770.7457 voice & 7998 fax