Table 2.
Description of studies included in the review.
| Authores [Ref] | Publication | Publication Year | Country | Study Design | Sample Size | Study Objective | Exposure Characteristic | Statistic Association | QI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groves-Kirkby, C.J. et al. [31] | J. Environ Radioact | 2016 | England and Wales | Retrospective Cohort | 1512 | Investigate the possible association between gas radon concentration at home and the increasing MS incidence | Radon Atlas for England and Wales | NO | 2.7 |
| Neuberger, J. et al. [43] | MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS | 2009 | United States | Cases and Controls | 148 Cases: 97 Controls: 51 |
Evaluate the relationship between MS prevalence and radon gas exposure, taking into account other risk identified factors | Arithmetic mean of the Rn (Bq/m3) concentration obtained between 1987–1989 from the different rural municipalities aggregates where houses are located [44,45] | YES (Significative association between radon gas exposure and MS prevalence) |
2.1 |
| Lykken, G. I. et al. [46] | Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology | 2008 | Croatia | Cases and Controls | 30 Cases: 15 Controls: 15 |
Investigate radon exposure as an inductor factor of MS | Canisters | YES (222Rn exposure and la 214Biretention is higher in the cases) |
1.5 |
| Gilmore M. et al. [47] | Environ Geochem Health | 2003 | Ireland | Study 1:Relationship between MS Ireland members and radon levels Study 2: Survey about MS characteristic houses |
Study 2: 67 | Investigate if some ambient factor, as the radon gas exposure in the infant period, increases the genetic predisposition for MS | Radioactivity map published in 1995 by Appleton and Ball | Not specified | 1.5 |
| Bølviken B et al. [48] | Neuroepidemiology | 2003 | Norway | Ecologic | >100 | Investigate radon gas exposure as a risk factor for MS | Radtrack® | YES | 1.5 |
| Neilson, S. et al. [49] | FC journal of neurology | 1997 | England and Wales | Ecologic | >100 | Investigate the possible relationship between thesourcesof radiation distribution and epidemiological MND mortality data in England and Wales | Rn concentrations were monitored byNRPB (National Radiological Protection Board) | YES | 1.5 |
| Gary G. Schwartz et al. [50] | Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration | 2016 | United States | Ecologic | >100 | Investigate the relationship between the MND age adjusted mortality rates in United States, residential radon levels, well water use and other variables using a multivariable analysis. | US EPA (United States—Environmental Protection Agency) | YES (MND age adjusted mortality rate vs. Residential radon levels) NO (MND agemortality rate adjusted forother factors (such as: race, well water use) vs. residential radon levels |
1.5 |
| Momcilović B. et al. [37] | Arch higradatoksikol | 1999 | Croatia | Cases and Controls | 29 Cases: 21 Controls: 8 (no smokers) |
Analyze thedistribution of 222Rn decay products (210Po and 210Bi) in the lipid and protein fractions of the cortical gray matter and subcortical white matter of the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain of died individuals who had suffered from AD, PD, smokers and no smokers | EGε-G ORTEC system | YES The 222Rn decay products is mainly found in the protein fraction of the cortical gray matter and subcortical white matter of AD and smoker patients, compared to PD patients, where these products would accumulate in the lipid fraction of subcortical white matter. |
1.5 |
| Lehrer S [51] | Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease | 2017 | United States | Ecologic | >100 | Investigate the possible association between AD mortality rate in USA with radiation exposure (both total and the radon respective one) | “Assessment of Variations in Radiation Exposure in the United States” [52], and from article nº 160 - Ionizing Radiation Exposure of the Population of the United States [53] | YES (AD mortality rate vs. radon background radiation and total background radiation in USA) |
1.5 |
| Santos, N.V.d. et al. [54] | Scientific Report | 2020 | Brazil | Descriptive | 30 | Analyze the levels of emitted α particles by 210Po, a 222Rn decay product, in the olfactory epithelium, olfactory bulb, frontal lobe, and lung tissues in cadavers from the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. | The 210Po determination in human samples was performed by α particle spectrometry | YES The 210Po accumulation in the cadavers´ tissues, suggest that these radionuclides could influence the development of certain diseases such as neurodegenerative ones |
1.2 |