Abstract
In the present exploratory study, we aim to elucidate the action of radon in vivo and to assess the possible health risks. Chromosome aberrations were analyzed in lymphocytes of two patients (P1, P2) undergoing radon spa therapy in Bad Steben (Germany). Both patients, suffering from painful chronic degenerative disorders of the spine and joints, received nine baths (1.2 kBq/L at 34 °C) over a 3-week period. Chromosome aberrations were analyzed before and 6, 12 and 30 weeks after the start of therapy using the high-resolution multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization (mFISH) technique. For comparison, the lymphocytes from two healthy donors (HD1, HD2) were examined. P1 had a higher baseline aberration frequency than P2 and both healthy donors (5.3 ± 1.3 vs. 2.0 ± 0.8, 1.4 ± 0.3 and 1.1 ± 0.1 aberrations/100 analyzed metaphases, respectively). Complex aberrations, biomarkers of densely ionizing radiation, were found in P1, P2 and HD1. Neither the aberration frequency nor the fraction of complex aberrations increased after radon spa treatment, i.e., based on biological dosimetry, no increased health risk was found. It is worth noting that a detailed breakpoint analysis revealed potentially clonal aberrations in both patients. Altogether, our data show pronounced inter-individual differences with respect to the number and types of aberrations, complicating the risk analysis of low doses such as those received during radon therapy.
Highlights
The aberrations were analyzed in the lymphocytes of two healthy donors (HD1, Healthy donor 2 (HD2), the data from Healthy donor 1 (HD1) have recently been published [21])
In our exploratory multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization (mFISH) study, we found no cytogenetic fingerprint of high-LET alpha particle radiation in the lymphocytes of two patients undergoing radon spa therapy
Preferentially induced by alpha particles in vitro, were present in both patients, but their frequency was not increased compared to samples taken before radon spa treatment as well as samples from unexposed healthy donors
Summary
Therapeutic exposure to the naturally occurring radioactive noble gas radon has beneficial effects for patients suffering from chronic painful degenerative diseases and inflammatory diseases of the musculoskeletal system [1,2,3,4]. Patients are repeatedly exposed to radon within a period of 3 to 4 weeks by bathing in radoncontaining water (balneotherapy) or by visiting galleries or caves with a high natural radon concentration. Patients report pain relief, an increase in joint mobility and a reduced consumption of analgesic drugs and these effects last for several months after treatment [2,5,6]. The mechanisms of action behind radon spa therapy are not fully understood [7]
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