DNA damage in oral epithelial cells of individuals chronically exposed to indoor radon (222Rn) in a hydrothermal area.
Hydrothermal areas are potentially hazardous to humans as volcanic gases such as radon (222Rn) are continuously released from soil diffuse degassing. Exposure to radon is estimated to be the second leading cause of lung cancer, but little is known about radon health-associated risks in hydrothermal regions. This cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate the DNA damage in the buccal epithelial cells of individuals chronically exposed to indoor radon in a volcanic area (Furnas volcano, Azores, Portugal) with a hydrothermal system. Buccal epithelial cells were collected from 33 individuals inhabiting the hydrothermal area (Ribeira Quente village) and from 49 individuals inhabiting a non-hydrothermal area (Ponta Delgada city). Indoor radon was measured with Ramon 2.2 detectors. Chromosome damage was measured by micronucleus cytome assay, and RAPD-PCR was used as a complementary tool to evaluate DNA damage, using three 10-mer primers (D11, F1 and F12). Indoor radon concentration correlated positively with the frequency of micronucleated cells (rs= 0.325, p = 0.003). Exposure to radon is a risk factor for the occurrence micronucleated cells in the inhabitants of the hydrothermal area (RR = 1.71; 95% CI, 1.2-2.4; p = 0.003). One RAPD-PCR primer (F12) produced differences in the banding pattern, a fact that can indicate its potential for detecting radon-induced specific genomic alterations. The observed association between chronic exposure to indoor radon and the occurrence of chromosome damage in human oral epithelial cells evidences the usefulness of biological surveillance to assess mutations involved in pre-carcinogenesis in hydrothermal areas, reinforcing the need for further studies with human populations living in these areas.
Department of Biology, University of the Azores, Rua da Mãe de Deus, Apartado 1422, 9501-801, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal. diana.ps.linhares@uac.pt.|CVARG, Center for Volcanology and Geological Risks Assessment, University of the Azores, 9501-801, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal. diana.ps.linhares@uac.pt.
Diana Paula Silva
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5013-7131
DPS
Linhares
Department of Biology, University of the Azores, Rua da Mãe de Deus, Apartado 1422, 9501-801, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal.|cE3c, Centre for Ecology Evolution and Environmental Changes and Azorean Biodiversity Group, University of the Azores, 9501-801, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal.
Patrícia Ventura
PV
Garcia
CVARG, Center for Volcanology and Geological Risks Assessment, University of the Azores, 9501-801, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal.|CIVISA, Center for Information and Seismovolcanic Surveillance of the Azores, University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal.
Catarina
C
Silva
Department of Biology, University of the Azores, Rua da Mãe de Deus, Apartado 1422, 9501-801, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal.
Joana
J
Barroso
Department of Biology, University of the Azores, Rua da Mãe de Deus, Apartado 1422, 9501-801, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal.|Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.|Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Nadya
N
Kazachkova
Department of Biology, University of the Azores, Rua da Mãe de Deus, Apartado 1422, 9501-801, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal.
Rui
R
Pereira
Department of Biology, University of the Azores, Rua da Mãe de Deus, Apartado 1422, 9501-801, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal.|Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.|Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Manuela
M
Lima
Department of Biology, University of the Azores, Rua da Mãe de Deus, Apartado 1422, 9501-801, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal.
Ricardo
R
Camarinho
Department of Geosciences, University of the Azores, 9501-801, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal.|CVARG, Center for Volcanology and Geological Risks Assessment, University of the Azores, 9501-801, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal.
Teresa
T
Ferreira
Department of Biology, University of the Azores, Rua da Mãe de Deus, Apartado 1422, 9501-801, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal.|CVARG, Center for Volcanology and Geological Risks Assessment, University of the Azores, 9501-801, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal.
Armindo
A
Dos Santos Rodrigues
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D001394:Azores; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004249:DNA Damage; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011174:Portugal; D011886:Radon / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D019105:Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique; D018707:Volcanic Eruptions
D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D011886:Radon
Biomonitoring; Genotoxicity; Micronuclei; RAPD-PCR