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Particle radioactivity from radon decay products and reduced pulmonary function among chronic obstructive pulmonary
Veronica A Wang1, Petros Koutrakis1, Longxiang Li1
1Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
Background:
Radon (222Rn) decay products can attach to particles in the air, be inhaled, and potentially cause airway damage.
Research Question:
Is short-term exposure to particle radioactivity (PR) attributable to radon decay products emitted from particulate matter ≤2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5) associated with pulmonary function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients?
Study Design And Methods:
In this cohort study, 142 elderly, predominantly male patients with COPD from Eastern Massachusetts each had up to 4 one-week long seasonal assessments of indoor (home) and ambient (central site) PR and PM2.5 over the course of a year (467 assessments). Ambient and indoor PR were measured as α-activity on archived PM2.5 filter samples. Ratios of indoor/ambient PR were calculated, with higher ratios representing PR from an indoor source of radon decay. We also considered a measure of outside air infiltration that could dilute the concentrations of indoor radon decay products, the indoor/ambient ratio of sulfur concentrations in PM2.5 filter samples. Spirometry pre- and post-bronchodilator (BD) forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were conducted following sampling. Generalized additive mixed models were adjusted for meteorologic variables, seasonality, and individual-level determinants of pulmonary function. We additionally adjusted for indoor PM2.5 and black carbon (BC).
Results:
PR exposure metrics indicating radon decay product exposure from an indoor source were associated with a reduction in FEV1 and FVC. Patients in homes with high indoor PR (≥median) and low air infiltration (
Interpretation:
Our findings raise concern about the harmful effects of PR exposures attributable to residential radon on pulmonary function in patients with COPD.
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