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Detection of genomic instability in normal human bronchial epithelial cells exposed to {sup 238}Pu

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:54819

Alpha particle-emitting radon daughters constitute a risk for development of lung cancer in humans. The development of this disease involves multiple genetic alterations. These changes and the time course they follow are not yet defined despite numerous in vitro endeavors to transform human lung cells with various physical or chemical agents. However, genomic instability, characterized both by structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations and by elevated rates of point mutations, is a common feature of tumor cells. Further, both types of genomic instability have been reported in the noncancerous progeny of normal murine hemopoietic cells exposed in vitro to {alpha}-particles. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if genomic instability is also a prominent feature of normal human bronchial epithelial cells exposed to {alpha}-particle irradiation from the decay of inhaled radon daughters.

Research Organization:
Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Inst., Albuquerque, NM (United States). Inhalation Toxicology Research Inst.
OSTI ID:
54819
Report Number(s):
ITRI--144; ON: DE95007526
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English