You may know that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer worldwide. But could it also affect how children’s brains develop, especially here in Nebraska?
The short answer is yes, according to a researcher at Boys Town National Research Hospital.
“Just in one small study, we had remarkable results,” said Brittany K. Taylor, Ph.D., director of the Neurodiversity Laboratory at Boys Town National Research Hospital. “It spurred a whole line of research I’ve been working on for about six years now.”
Hidden Hazard
Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil. It’s invisible, odorless and can seep into homes through the ground.
“When my husband and I first moved to Nebraska, our realtor told us this is a high radon state, and you have to make sure you test for radon,” Dr. Taylor said.
In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Map of Radon Zones shows that eastern Nebraska and all of Iowa have the highest potential of elevated indoor radon levels.
That fact sparked Dr. Taylor’s curiosity. “I started reading and was surprised just seeing what we did know — and how much we don’t know — about radon.”
Brains at Work
The next step for Dr. Taylor was to apply for a small grant to add radon test kits to a Boys Town study on children’s brain development.
“We wanted to see if kids are getting exposed, and if we could detect any markers of that impacting how their brains work—how they pay attention, how they behave,” Dr. Taylor said.
The results were so striking, she began working on larger studies. Dr. Taylor’s team has since collected data from more than 100 children in the Omaha area between age 8 and 17.
“We’re looking specifically at attention development,” she said. “Around 8 years old, the brain networks that support attention start to develop rapidly. It’s a very sensitive window.”
Seeing Inside
For children in the study, the process is simple. “They sit in a chair with their head in a special helmet. Inside are sensors picking up magnetic signals from the brain,” she said.
While the child performs simple tasks, a machine called the MEG — short for magnetoencephalography — tracks the brain working in real time.
“It lets us track, millisecond by millisecond, how brain cells work together to help you block out distractions or solve problems, for example,” Dr. Taylor said.
MRI scans are also done to provide images of the brain. “We use both tools together to get the best picture of how the brain is growing and how environmental toxins might be impacting that,” Dr. Taylor said.
Call to Action
Radon might be invisible, but its risks don’t have to be.
“As we start to publish our findings, I hope we can push for better public health education, if not policy, around radon safety and mitigation,” Dr. Taylor said.
Her take-home message is simple: anyone can find out if they’re being exposed to radon.
“Radon tests are very inexpensive. You can pick them up at the hardware store for around $30,” Dr. Taylor said. “Knowledge is power, and anybody can do it.”