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International Journal of Molecular... Dec 2020Largely unnoticed, all life on earth is constantly exposed to low levels of ionizing radiation. Radon, an imperceptible natural occurring radioactive noble gas,... (Review)
Review
Largely unnoticed, all life on earth is constantly exposed to low levels of ionizing radiation. Radon, an imperceptible natural occurring radioactive noble gas, contributes as the largest single fraction to radiation exposure from natural sources. For that reason, radon represents a major issue for radiation protection. Nevertheless, radon is also applied for the therapy of inflammatory and degenerative diseases in galleries and spas to many thousand patients a year. In either case, chronic environmental exposure or therapy, the effect of radon on the organism exposed is still under investigation at all levels of interaction. This includes the physical stage of diffusion and energy deposition by radioactive decay of radon and its progeny and the biological stage of initiating and propagating a physiologic response or inducing cancer after chronic exposure. The purpose of this manuscript is to comprehensively review the current knowledge of radon and its progeny on physical background, associated cancer risk and potential therapeutic effects.
Topics: Air Pollution, Indoor; Animals; Clinical Trials as Topic; Environmental Exposure; Humans; Neoplasms; Radiation Exposure; Radiation Monitoring; Radon; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors
PubMed: 33396815
DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010316 -
Radiation Protection Dosimetry Nov 2017Exposure to naturally occurring radon is unavoidable and is second only to smoking as a direct cause of lung cancer in the USA. The literature for existing information... (Review)
Review
Exposure to naturally occurring radon is unavoidable and is second only to smoking as a direct cause of lung cancer in the USA. The literature for existing information on US occupations that are prone to increased radon exposures was reviewed. Current recommendations and applicable protective standards against occupational radon exposure that are applicable to US workers are discussed. Exposure varied widely among several working populations, most of whom were employed in industries that were unrelated to the uranium fuel cycle. Radon protection standards differed among agencies and have not changed since the height of domestic uranium production in the 1970s. In contrast, European countries are adopting recommendations by the International Commission on Radiation Protection to set a reference level near a derived annual exposure of about one working level month, which is 25% of the level currently established for US miners.
Topics: Humans; Occupational Exposure; Radiation Protection; Radon; United States
PubMed: 28204795
DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncx007 -
Yonsei Medical Journal Jul 2019Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive material that is formed as the decay product of uranium and thorium, and is estimated to contribute to approximately half of... (Review)
Review
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive material that is formed as the decay product of uranium and thorium, and is estimated to contribute to approximately half of the average annual natural background radiation. When inhaled, it damages the lungs during radioactive decay and affects the human body. Through many epidemiological studies regarding occupational exposure among miners and residential exposure among the general population, radon has been scientifically proven to cause lung cancer, and radon exposure is the second most common cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. However, it is unclear whether radon exposure causes diseases other than lung cancer. Media reports have often dealt with radon exposure in relation to health problems, although public attention has been limited to a one-off period. However, recently in Korea, social interest and concern about radon exposure and its health effects have increased greatly due to mass media reports of high concentrations of radon being released from various close-to-life products, such as mattresses and beauty masks. Accordingly, this review article is intended to provide comprehensive scientific information regarding the health effects of radon exposure.
Topics: Health; Humans; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced; Radiation Exposure; Radon
PubMed: 31250572
DOI: 10.3349/ymj.2019.60.7.597 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jul 2022We "bathe" in radiation, which is an integral part of our environment [...].
We "bathe" in radiation, which is an integral part of our environment [...].
Topics: Air Pollutants, Radioactive; Air Pollution, Indoor; Environmental Monitoring; Housing; Radiation Monitoring; Radioactivity; Radon
PubMed: 35954633
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19159276 -
International Journal of Environmental... Oct 2020To carry out a systematic review of scientific literature about the association between radon exposure and neurodegenerative diseases. We performed a bibliographic...
To carry out a systematic review of scientific literature about the association between radon exposure and neurodegenerative diseases. We performed a bibliographic search in the following databases: Pub med (Medline), Cochrane, BioMed Central and Web of Science. We collected the data by following a predetermined search strategy in which several terms werecombined. After an initial search, 77 articles were obtained.10 of which fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Five of these 10 studies were related to multiple sclerosis (MS), 2 were about motor neuron diseases (MND), in particular amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and 3 were related to both Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). The majority of the included articles, suggested a possible association between radon exposure and a subsequent development of neurodegenerative diseases. Some of the studies that obtained statistically significant resultsrevealed a possible association between radon exposure and an increase in MS prevalence. Furthermore, it was also suggested that radon exposure increases MND and AD mortality. Regarding AD and PD, it was observed that certainde cay products of radon-222 (Rn), specifically polonium-210 (Po) and bismuth-210 (Bi), present a characteristic distributionpattern within the brain anatomy. However, the study with the highest scientific evidence included in this review, which investigated a possible association between the concentration of residential radon gas and the MS incidence, revealed no significant results. It cannot be concluded, although it is observed, that there is a possible causal association between radon exposure and neurodegenerative diseases. Most of the available studies are ecological so, studies of higher statistical evidence are needed to establish a causal relationship. Further research is needed on this topic.
Topics: Alzheimer Disease; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Humans; Motor Neuron Disease; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Radon
PubMed: 33066046
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17207439 -
Pediatric Pulmonology Dec 2022
Topics: Child; Humans; Radon; Air Pollution, Indoor; Asthma; Environmental Exposure
PubMed: 36101499
DOI: 10.1002/ppul.26143 -
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity Dec 2018Radon causes approximately 21,000 deaths annually from lung cancer, making it the second most important cause of lung cancer after smoking. However, the extent of public... (Review)
Review
Radon causes approximately 21,000 deaths annually from lung cancer, making it the second most important cause of lung cancer after smoking. However, the extent of public knowledge about radon is unclear. We systematically reviewed the epidemiologic literature in order to assay the public's understanding about radon and specifically, whether radon is known to cause lung cancer. Radon knowledge has most often been gauged via telephone and in-person responses to the question, "Have you heard about radon?" Our review of 20 such studies reveals that although many individuals have "heard about" radon, many segments of the population, particularly individuals younger than thirty and those with less education, do not know what radon is. Of those who have heard about radon, the majority of respondents in many studies did not know that radon causes lung cancer. Conversely, misinformation about radon is common; approximately 50% of respondents in many studies reported the erroneous belief that radon causes headaches. This suggests that the public has confused the effects of radon with those of carbon monoxide. Rates of radon testing and mitigation are correpondingly low and appear to reflect cognitive defense mechanisms by which individuals believe that their risks from radon are lower than the risks faced by others. Our review suggests that public information materials about radon require revision. Specifically, these should emphasize that radon causes lung cancer and that household carbon monoxide detectors do not detect it. Radon education provided by realtors at the time of residential home sales may be a promising venue to increase radon testing and remediation.
Topics: Air Pollution, Indoor; Environmental Exposure; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Radiation Exposure; Radon; Risk Factors
PubMed: 29883874
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.05.017 -
Health Physics Jun 2021The primary objective of this work was to characterize employee exposure to radon and progeny while performing guide/interpretation and concessions duties in a tourist...
The primary objective of this work was to characterize employee exposure to radon and progeny while performing guide/interpretation and concessions duties in a tourist cavern. Radon gas and progeny concentrations, fraction of unattached progeny, and other environmental parameters were evaluated in a popular tourist cavern in Southeastern New Mexico. Alpha-track detectors were used to measure radon gas in several cavern locations during a 9-mo period. Additionally, radon gas and attached and unattached fractions of radon progeny were measured at three primary cavern work locations during a 1-d period using a SARAD EQF 3220. Radon gas concentrations in the cavern were elevated due to extremely low air exchange rates with substantial seasonal variation. Mean measured radon concentrations ranged from 970 to 2,600 Bq m-3 in the main cavern and from 5,400 to 6,000 Bq m-3 in a smaller cave associated with the regional cave system. Measurements of unattached fractions (0.40-0.60) were higher than those commonly found in mines and other workplaces, leading to the potential for relatively high worker dose. Although radon gas concentrations were below the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Permissible Exposure Limit, employees working in the cavern have the potential to accrue ionizing radiation dose in excess of the annual effective dose limit recommended by the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements due to a high unattached fraction of radon progeny. There was a strong negative correlation between unattached fractions and equilibrium factors, but these parameters should be further evaluated for seasonal variation. Introduction of engineering controls such as ventilation could damage the cavern environment, so administrative controls, such as time management, are preferred to reduce employee dose.
Topics: Air Pollutants, Radioactive; Air Pollution, Indoor; Caves; Occupational Exposure; Radiation Monitoring; Radon; Radon Daughters
PubMed: 33470714
DOI: 10.1097/HP.0000000000001388 -
CA: a Cancer Journal For Clinicians 2001Residential and occupational exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. As many as eight million homes in the US have elevated...
Residential and occupational exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. As many as eight million homes in the US have elevated radon levels according to Environmental Protection Agency estimates. High exposure levels in homes are largely a result of radon-contaminated gas rising from the soil. This makes it an unusual indoor air pollutant in that it has a natural source. This study examines the synergism between smoking and radon, what levels are considered safe, and what to do to safeguard against overexposure to radon.
Topics: Animals; Environmental Exposure; Epidemiologic Measurements; Health Education; Humans; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced; Radon; United States
PubMed: 11760568
DOI: 10.3322/canjclin.51.6.337 -
International Journal of Chronic... 2020The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between exposure to residential radon and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by means of a... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between exposure to residential radon and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by means of a systematic review.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
A search was conducted in PubMed and OVID for papers making reference to the radon-COPD relationship. No search filters were applied, whether by date of publication, study type or sample size. All studies not written in English or Spanish were discarded.
RESULTS
A total of 174 and 57 papers were found in PubMed and OVID, respectively: of these, 13 (11 on miners and 2 on the general population) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Only four of the studies on cohorts of miners analysed COPD as a specific disease, and only one reported statistically significant results. In addition, many of these studies lacked information on tobacco use among miners. In contrast, studies conducted on the general public showed an association between mortality and hospital admissions, on the one hand, and residential radon on the other.
CONCLUSION
There are not enough studies to provide a basis for confirming or ruling out an association between radon exposure and COPD. Nonetheless, the most recent general population studies point to evidence of a possible association. In view of the heterogeneity of available studies, it is impossible to say whether this gas may or may not affect COPD morbidity and mortality, until such a time as further studies are carried out.
Topics: Hospitalization; Humans; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Radon
PubMed: 32425519
DOI: 10.2147/COPD.S245982