AAAR 37th Annual Conference October 14 - October 18, 2019 Oregon Convention Center Portland, Oregon, USA
Abstract View
Assessing Exposures and Health Effects of Ambient Particle Radioactivity: An Emerging Field for Investigation by Aerosol Researchers
PETROS KOUTRAKIS, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Abstract Number: 678 Working Group: From Aerosol Dosimetry and Toxicology to Health
Abstract Exposure to radon (Rn) gas and its decay products (progeny) is common, with an estimated 7.1 million U.S. homes above the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Rn mitigation level of 4 pCi/L, which is an action level based only on lung cancer risk. To date very little is known whether exposure to Rn and its progeny causes other adverse effects. We hypothesize that α-radiation emitted by Rn progeny attached to ambient or indoor particles PM2.5 or PM10 causes adverse cardiovascular and respiratory effects.
Our novel scientific premise regarding the enhancement of air pollution particle toxicity by Rn progeny is firmly supported by recent studies. During my presentation I will give an overview of these investigations. This will include findings from two national studies identifying radon as a potential cardiovascular and respiratory mortality risk. Next, I will introduce new exposure metrics of particle radioactivity and their association with blood pressure, lung function, and inflammatory markers in two cohort studies. Finally, I will present methods to assess indoor levels of particle radioactivity and to measure radon progeny in human tissues.