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In a study conducted
at the University of North Dakota, researchers discovered that the
presence of radioactive radon daughters in the brains of non-smoking
persons with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease was 10 times greater
than it was in the brains of persons with no previous evidence of
neurological disorders.
August 2, 2004 -- In a study
conducted at the University of North Dakota, researchers discovered
that the presence of radioactive radon daughters in the brains of
non-smoking persons with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease was 10
times greater than it was in the brains of persons with no previous
evidence of neurological disorders. Professor Glenn Lykken and Dr.
Berislav Momcilovic assert their study demonstrates that indoor radon
gas has the capacity to irreversibly infest the brain with the poisonous
progeny of radioactive heavy metals.
Recently revised EPA risks assessments estimate 21,000 Americans die
annually from radon induced lung cancer, 1FREE0% higher than their 1994
estimate. However, scientists are increasingly suspicious that radon
may be linked to disease in other parts of the body as well.
When inhaled, radon gas accumulates in lipid tissue throughout the body
with the highest concentration in the brain, bone marrow, and nervous
system. Additionally, one-third of the inhaled radon decay products
(radioactive particles produced when the gas decays) pass from the lungs
into the blood stream indicating that the gas does not flow quickly in
and out of the lungs, but lingers in the body.
Previous study at UND determined that once radon is rapidly absorbed
into the body from the lung, a fraction accumulates in the brain
resulting in increased gamma ray emissions from bismuth-214 (one of the
radioactive radon decay products) and altered EEG signals.
While radon is a lipid-soluble gas that can move freely in and out of
the brain despite the blood-brain barrier, none of the transmuted heavy
metal radon daughters are soluble in the lipids, meaning they remain
trapped in the brain where they emit gamma radiation and alpha particles
resulting in both radiation and chemical injury to the brain cells.
Of keen interest was the unexpected discovery that the radioactivity
selectively accrues to the brain proteins in the Alzheimer’s victims and
to the brain lipids in the Parkinson’s victims. This pathognomonic
distribution was inferred to reflect the increase of local chlorine
availability to which the radon daughters bound selectively.
Once present, the most likely candidate for radiation injury appears to
be the highly radiosensitive astrocytes rather than the more
radioresistant neurons, which do not divide. Other studies have
indicated the astrocytes may be involved in Alzheimer's disease and the
amyloid deposits and neurofibrillatory tangling observed with
Alzheimer's may well reflect the response to radiation injury of the
astrocytes.
Interestingly enough, the geographic distribution of Parkinson’s disease
mortality is considerably higher in states with greater radon
potential, according to research by D.J. Lansak of the University of
Kentucky and published in the Journal of Neurological Sciences.
An estimated 4.FREE million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, the number
having doubled in the last 2FREE years. An estimated 1.FREE million Americans
have Parkinson’s disease with 60,000 new cases diagnosed each year.
University of North Dakota researchers are looking for more funding to
continue their research. To access the study in its entirety, please go
to www.radonnews.org or the Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders Magazine. Contact: Professor G.I. Lykken at UND at (701) 777 – 3519.
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