Webinar: Assessing non-cancer effects of radon particle radioactivity
This event is open to Members and Non-Members
Event Details
Our research on the characterization and health effects of regional air pollution mixtures led to an interesting and important avenue of inquiry: the effect of environmental radioactivity on human health. A large fraction of the total exposure to naturally occurring ionizing radiation is through inhalation of ambient particles carrying attached radionuclides. The primary source of this particle matter (PM) radioactivity is Radon (Rn) gas through its decay products. Rn emanates from the soil and enters the atmosphere, including indoor air, where it decays. The resulting radionuclides attach to inhalable PM, which deposit in the lungs and continue to release ionizing radiation (α-, β- and γ-radiation) causing pulmonary inflammation and oxidative stress. To date, most previous studies have focused on the cancer effects of Rn progeny; therefore, there are significant knowledge gaps regarding the non-cancer effects of radon and radioactive particles. Our recent research has demonstrated that these non-cancer effects are, in fact, very important. Specifically, we have generated new information showing that exposures to Rn as well as PM gross α-, β- and γ-activities are associated with numerous adverse health outcomes, including blood pressure, oxidative stress, cardiac, lung and liver function, gestational diabetes and hypertension, and total and cardiopulmonary mortality.
Petros Koutrakis
Professor of Environmental Sciences
T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Harvard University, USA
Our research on the characterization and health effects of regional air pollution mixtures led to an interesting and important avenue of inquiry: the effect of environmental radioactivity on human health. A large fraction of the total exposure to naturally occurring ionizing radiation is through inhalation of ambient particles carrying attached radionuclides. The primary source of this particle matter (PM) radioactivity is Radon (Rn) gas through its decay products. Rn emanates from the soil and enters the atmosphere, including indoor air, where it decays. The resulting radionuclides attach to inhalable PM, which deposit in the lungs and continue to release ionizing radiation (α-, β- and γ-radiation) causing pulmonary inflammation and oxidative stress. To date, most previous studies have focused on the cancer effects of Rn progeny; therefore, there are significant knowledge gaps regarding the non-cancer effects of radon and radioactive particles. Our recent research has demonstrated that these non-cancer effects are, in fact, very important. Specifically, we have generated new information showing that exposures to Rn as well as PM gross α-, β- and γ-activities are associated with numerous adverse health outcomes, including blood pressure, oxidative stress, cardiac, lung and liver function, gestational diabetes and hypertension, and total and cardiopulmonary mortality.
Petros Koutrakis
Professor of Environmental Sciences
T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Harvard University, USA
