Chromosome aberrations in peripheral lymphocytes of individuals living in dwellings with an increased level of indoor radon concentrations

Sixty one individuals living in dwellings with increased indoor radon concentrations (80-13,000 Bq/m3) were investigated cytogenetically. The frequency of dicentric chromosomes (dic) and centric rings (cr) showed a dependency on the time integrated radon concentration from ≤1000 to 10,000 Bq/m3·y. At values higher than 10,000 Bq/m3·y, the frequency remained on the same level. The frequency of translocations was determined in 16 persons living in houses with radon concentrations >5000 Bq/m3. In persons older than 40 years, a significantly increased frequency was observed in comparison to the age-matched controls (p<0.05). Since most of the translocations were found in stable cells, it is concluded that translocations are also induced in blood-forming tissue and are transmitted to peripheral blood. There is good agreement between physically calculated doses, according to ICRP and BEIR VI, and biologically calculated doses for blood and bone marrow.