Calculate, to the nearest 10 μSv, the daily dose a smoker would receive by smoking one pack of cigarettes a day (20 cigarettes), imparting 150 μJ of energy to the lungs. Assume an average combined lung weight of 1 kg.
First, we need to convert the energy imparted to the lungs into equivalent dose in microsieverts (μSv). We can use the formula:
Dose (μSv) = Energy imparted (μJ) / Lung mass (kg) x Radiation weighting factor x Tissue weighting factor x Absorption coefficient
Given:
- Energy imparted = 150 μJ
- Lung mass = 1 kg
- Radiation weighting factor = 1 (for alpha radiation emitted by tobacco smoke)
- Tissue weighting factor = 0.12 (for lungs)
- Absorption coefficient = 1
Dose = 150 μJ / 1 kg x 1 x 0.12 x 1 = 150 μSv
Since the smoker smokes one pack of cigarettes a day (20 cigarettes), the daily dose would be:
Daily dose = Dose per cigarette x Number of cigarettes per pack = 150 μSv x 20 = 3000 μSv
Therefore, the daily dose a smoker would receive by smoking one pack of cigarettes a day would be 3000 μSv.