Lab researchers uncover new effects of radon emissions on human cells

["Donivan Porterfield, LANL CST-3" <dporterfield@lanl.gov>]

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Lab researchers uncover new effects of radon emissions
on human cells

LOS ALAMOS, N.M., July 15, 1997 - Los Alamos National
Laboratory researchers have uncovered new evidence of
how radioactive emissions from radon and its decay 
products induce cellular changes that could lead to 
cancer.

The results of an investigation reported in a recent
issue of Cancer Research show that alpha particles 
like those emitted by indoor radon gas do not have 
to hit the nucleus of a cell to create changes that 
could damage the cell's DNA, which resides in the 
nucleus. In fact, the alpha particles don't even have
to hit the cell; a microscopic bombardment of the
surrounding medium can result in the production of 
chemicals that in turn induce cellular changes capable
of causing DNA damage.

...

The full text is available at the following URL:
http://www.lanl.gov/projects/PA/Releases/97-094.html

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Donivan Porterfield                              (505) 667-4710
Los Alamos National Laboratory                   (505) 665-5982 fax
MS K484, CST-3 (Analytical Quality and Chemical Information Management)
Los Alamos, NM  87545                            dporterfield@lanl.gov