This project aims to determine whether short-term exposure to wildfire smoke combined with high radon levels increases long-term lung cancer risk in affected communities.
Climate-driven increases in wildfire activity in the Northeastern United States now overlap with regions such as the Reading Prong, where naturally high radon levels are common. Fresh wildfire smoke contains coarse particulate matter that can carry radon decay products into the lungs. While chronic exposure to radon and smoke independently increases lung cancer risk, the health effects of short-term, high-level co-exposure remain unknown. This project investigates whether acute wildfire smoke events in radon-prone regions increase long-term lung cancer risk. In controlled laboratory experiments, mice will be exposed to wildfire smoke, radon, or both for short daily periods over two weeks to simulate an intense smoke event. After six months, biological markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and early lung cancer development will be assessed. In parallel, atmospheric modeling will simulate smoke dispersion from recent Northeastern wildfires and overlay these results with radon risk maps to identify communities that experienced elevated co-exposure. Together, these efforts will clarify potential health risks associated with combined wildfire smoke and radon exposure and inform public health strategies in high-risk regions.
