Experimental Setups for In Vitro Studies on Radon Exposure in Mammalian Cells—A Critical Overview

Andreas Maier, Tarryn Bailey, Annika Hinrichs, Sylvie Lerchl, Richard T. Newman, Claudia Fournier and Charlot Vandevoorde ()
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Andreas Maier: Biophysics Department, GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH, 64291 Darmstadt, Germany
Tarryn Bailey: Department of Physics, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Cape Town 7600, South Africa
Annika Hinrichs: Biophysics Department, GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH, 64291 Darmstadt, Germany
Sylvie Lerchl: Biophysics Department, GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH, 64291 Darmstadt, Germany
Richard T. Newman: Department of Physics, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Cape Town 7600, South Africa
Claudia Fournier: Biophysics Department, GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH, 64291 Darmstadt, Germany
Charlot Vandevoorde: Biophysics Department, GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH, 64291 Darmstadt, Germany

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 9, 1-29

Abstract: Naturally occurring radon and its short lived progeny are the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, and the main risk factor for non-smokers. The radon progeny, mainly Polonium-218 ( 218 Po) and Polonium-214 ( 214 Po), are responsible for the highest dose deposition in the bronchial epithelium via alpha-decay. These alpha-particles release a large amount of energy over a short penetration range, which results in severe and complex DNA damage. In order to unravel the underlying biological mechanisms which are triggered by this complex DNA damage and eventually give rise to carcinogenesis, in vitro radiobiology experiments on mammalian cells have been performed using radon exposure setups, or radon analogues, which mimic alpha-particle exposure. This review provides an overview of the different experimental setups, which have been developed and used over the past decades for in vitro radon experiments. In order to guarantee reliable results, the design and dosimetry of these setups require careful consideration, which will be emphasized in this work. Results of these in vitro experiments, particularly on bronchial epithelial cells, can provide valuable information on biomarkers, which can assist to identify exposures, as well as to study the effects of localized high dose depositions and the heterogeneous dose distribution of radon.

Keywords: radon exposure; molecular mechanisms; radon chamber; radon analogue; radiobiology; in vitro experiments; alpha particles; DNA damage (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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