Chemicals and Drugs

Radon Daughters

Short-lived radioactive decay products of radon that include 216-Po, 214-Pb, 214-Bi, and 214-Po. They have an effective half-life of about 30 minutes and are solids that can deposit on the bronchial airways during inhalation and exhalation. This results in exposure of the respiratory airways to alpha radiation and can lead to diseases of the respiratory system, including lung cancer. (From Casarett and Doull's Toxicology, 4th ed, p740)

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Short-lived radioactive decay products of radon that include 216-Po, 214-Pb, 214-Bi, and 214-Po. They have an effective half-life of about 30 minutes and are solids that can deposit on the bronchial airways during inhalation and exhalation. This results in exposure of the respiratory airways to alpha radiation and can lead to diseases of the respiratory system, including lung cancer. (From Casarett and Doull's Toxicology, 4th ed, p740)

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

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Drug Class

Pharmacological Action

MeSH Record

Synonyms

13 entry terms
  • Radon Daughter Nuclides
  • Radon Decay Products
  • Radon Progeny
  • Daughter Nuclides, Radon
  • Daughters, Radon
  • Decay Products, Radon
  • Thoron Daughter Nuclides
  • Thoron Daughters
  • Thoron Decay Products
  • Thoron Progeny
  • Daughter Nuclides, Thoron
  • Daughters, Thoron
  • Decay Products, Thoron

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

19 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, analysis, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemistry, classification, economics, history, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, poisoning, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Record

History Note

94; was RADON DAUGHTERS (NM) 1981-93

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Bismuth (1981-1992)
  • Lead (1981-1992)
  • Polonium (1981-1992)
  • Radon (1993)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. D01w.268w.271w.800w.800
  2. D01w.268w.613w.700w.500
  3. D01w.362w.641w.745w.800
  4. D01w.496w.749.305w.800w.500

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Radon Daughters. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D017687. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D017687
  2. Radon Daughters. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q74833870