Review articleThe sources and fate of 210Po in the urban air: A review

- The dominant sources of Po-210 in the urban air are high temperature processes.
- Corrected aerosol residence time method has been proposed.
- In some cases 210Pb/210Pb activity ratio in the air can reach value tens or hundreds.

The origin of 210Po activity and its fluctuations in the air are discussed in this paper. In the case of atmospheric aerosol samples, a comparison of the 210Po/210Pb and 210Bi/210Pb activity ratios makes it possible not only to determine aerosol residence times but also to appraise the contribution of the unsupported 210Po coming from other sources than 222Rn decay, such as human industrial activities, especially coal combustion. A simple mathematical method makes it possible to observe the seasonal fluctuations of the anthropogenic excess of 210Po in the urban air. The average doses of 210Po intake with food (including drinking water) and inhalation of urban aerosols are usually lower than those from 210Po intake by cigarette smokers and negligible in comparison to total natural radiation exposure.