Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 17, 2026
Evaluation of Colorectal Cancer Risk and Prevalence by Stool DNA Integrity Detection
Published on: June 8, 2020
Indoor radon concentration and risk and severity of inflammatory bowel diseases: a case-control study
Violeta Mauriz-Barreiro1,2,3, Alberto Ruano-Raviña4,5, Rocío Ferreiro-Iglesias2,3
1Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, CRETUS, University of Santiago de Compostela, Rúa da Choupana S/N, Santiago de Compostela 15706, Spain.
Background:
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) develops from a dysregulated immune response influenced by environmental exposures. Radon, a radioactive gas, has known biological effects, but its role in IBD remains unexplored.
Objectives:
To examine the association between residential radon exposure and the risk and clinical course of IBD.
Design:
A case-control study with 1-year prospective follow-up of cases.
Methods:
We included 178 newly diagnosed IBD patients and 178 age- and sex-matched controls in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, from June 2020 to September 2023. Residential radon levels were measured using passive detectors for 3 months. Outcomes included IBD diagnosis, disease extent, hospitalizations, and flares. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios adjusted for age and sex.
Results:
Median residential radon was 144.5 Bq/m3 in IBD cases and 189.5 Bq/m3 in controls. Higher radon levels were associated with reduced odds of IBD (OR 0.5 for 100-299 and >299 Bq/m3 vs 0-99 Bq/m3). No significant association was found between radon levels and hospitalizations or flares. Among ulcerative colitis patients, higher radon was linked to more extensive disease.
Conclusion:
Higher residential radon exposure might be inversely associated with IBD risk. However, it does not appear to influence disease progression. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings, since this is the first study on this topic, and chance or selection bias might be present.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
01:27Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by...
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
01:21Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Glucocorticoids