Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of long-term and repeatedly exposure to radon from hot spring on oxidative damage and antioxidation in the population. METHODS: A simple random sampling method was used to select 38 residents around radon hot spring in Jiangzha township as high radon group,and 39 residents of Axirong township were selected as control group. The levels of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) in plasma of the two groups were measured by enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA). The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the differences in 8-OHdG and TrxR between the two groups. Questionnaire surveys were conducted on residents' cognition of radon. RESULTS: Levels of 8-OHdG in peripheral plasma of residents with high radon group were significantly decreased and levels of TrxR were significantly increased (Z=-3.316,-3.773,P < 0.05),which were 0.571 and 2.325 times that of the control group respectively. Radon exposure was associated with differential expression of 8-OHdG and TrxR (P < 0.05). In addition,the two groups of residents lacked knowledge about radon and its impact on human health and about measures to reduce it. CONCLUSION: Long-term and repeatedly exposure to radon from hot springs enhanced body's antioxidant capacity to a certain extent,and reduced the level of oxidative damage. Local residents had a serious lack of awareness of radon,and they should be educated about such knowledge.

Key words: radon, low dose radiation, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine, thioredoxin reductase