Salud Diabetes

Diabetes News for the Spanish Speaking Community

Radon Exposure and Gestational Diabetes Risk: What We Know

Published · Updated

Original Article: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2828917?

Introduction: Understanding the Issue

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a condition where an individual has diabetes during pregnancy, affecting about 10% of pregnancies in the U.S. yearly. As well as being associated with adverse outcomes for the mother and baby, GDM can also lead to long-term health risks for both mothers and their children, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. While biological factors play a role, environmental factors like air pollution (such as microparticles such as PM2.5) and radon gas may also increase GDM risk. Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas, can mix with air pollutants, creating particles that are inhaled and may harm health.

Key Findings: Radon’s Role in GDM

A large study investigated the link between radon exposure and GDM risk in over 9,000 pregnant individuals across the U.S. Here’s what they found:

  1. Higher Risk with Radon: Those living in areas with higher radon levels (≥2 pCi/L) were 37% more likely to develop GDM compared to those in low-radon areas (<1 pCi/L).
  2. Interaction with Smoking: Smokers exposed to high radon had more than double the risk of GDM compared to non-smokers in low-radon areas, though the interaction wasn’t statistically significant.
  3. Combination with PM2.5: Exposure to high levels of both radon and PM2.5 increased GDM risk, highlighting a possible combined effect of these pollutants.

What This Means: Future Directions

This study shows that radon exposure might be an overlooked factor in GDM development. To confirm these findings, future research should focus on individual radon measurements in homes, studying radon’s effects on biological markers such as insulin resistance, and exploring interventions for at-risk groups, especially in high-radon areas. By understanding these connections, we can better protect maternal and child health.