B. Hellman et al., Alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis and human biomonitoring for genotoxicity: a study on subjects with residential exposure to radon, MUT RES-GTE, 442(2), 1999, pp. 121-132
Citations number
56
Categorie Soggetti
Molecular Biology & Genetics
Journal title
MUTATION RESEARCH-GENETIC TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS
Based on theoretical estimates and various correlation studies, it has been
suggested that ingestion of radon in drinking water represents an increase
d risk for cancer. Such a risk has never been conclusively shown in epidemi
ological or experimental animal studies, however, and it has been questione
d whether the radon level in the drinking water is of any significance in t
erms of overall radon exposure. Using primary DNA damage as a biological ma
rker for an ongoing exposure to ionising radiation, the present study was u
ndertaken to investigate whether people with different types of residential
radon exposures differed with regard to their levels of DNA damage in circ
ulating lymphocytes. DNA damage was measured in coded blood samples from 12
5 residents living in 45 households with different levels of radon-222 in t
he drinking water (10-2410 Bq/1) and indoor air (35-1025 Bq/m(3)) using alk
aline single cell gel electrophoresis (the 'Comet' assay). Increased levels
of radon in indoor air (> 200 Bq/m(3)) were found to be associated with an
increased level of DNA damage in peripheral lymphocytes (P less than or eq
ual to 0.05). No such correlation was seen for the radon concentrations in
the drinking water, and there was no obvious relationship between the radon
levels in drinking water and in indoor air. The results of the present stu
dy suggest that measures taken to reduce residential radon exposures should
be focused on reducing radon levels in indoor air rather than minimising r
adon levels in drinking water. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights re
served.