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Updated: Dec 28, 2025
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Published on: March 20, 2021
Effects of Radon From Hot Springs on Lymphocyte Subsets in Peripheral Blood
Chunnan Piao1, Mei Tian1, Hongjun Gao2
1Key Laboratory of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Emergency, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
Objective:
To analyze changes in immune functions by detecting lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of residents in the vicinity of radon from hot springs.
Methods:
Two groups were randomly selected; 61 residents in the vicinity of the hot springs were assigned to the radon group, and 51 residents with a similar lifestyle and habits but no contact with hot springs were assigned to the control group. The percentages of lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+CD8-, CD4-CD8+, CD4+/CD8+, and TCR/CD3) in the 2 groups were evaluated on a FACS Aria flow cytometer. The absolute values of lymphocytes (LYMPH#) and percentages of lymphocytes (LYMPH%) were measured by an automatic blood analyzer.
Results:
In the radon group, the numbers of CD3+ (Z = -0.140, P > .05) and CD4+CD8- (Z = -0.964, P > .05) T cells were higher, as compared with the controls, but this difference was not significant. In addition, the number of CD4-CD8+ (t = -2.141, P < .05) T cells was significantly lower in the radon group. Furthermore, the average ratios of CD4+/CD8+ (t = -2.201, P < .05) and TCR/CD3 (t = 2.047, P < .05) cells were significantly higher in the radon group than in the controls. Compared with the control group, the LYMPH# (t = -0.485, P > .05) and LYMPH% (Z = -0.835, P > .05) showed no significant change.
Conclusion:
Radon-rich hot springs could alter the proportions of lymphocyte subsets and possibly affect immunologic functions.
