Estimation of Exposure Dose Due to Radon in Radioactive Spring Water

Yasunori Mori; Akira Deguchi; Chihiro Miwa; Yasushi Iwasaki; Eri Suzumura; Kazunori Maeda; Hitoshi Hamaguchi; Hiroya Shimasaki; Masayasu Mizutani; Noriyuki Tanaka; Yoichi Kawamura

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Estimation of Exposure Dose Due to Radon in Radioactive Spring Water

VernacularTitle:Estimation of Exposure Dose Due to Radon in Radioactive Spring Water
Author: Yasunori MORI ¹ ; Akira DEGUCHI ² ; Chihiro MIWA ³ ; Yasushi IWASAKI ⁴ ; Eri SUZUMURA ³ ; Kazunori MAEDA ⁵ ; Hitoshi HAMAGUCHI ³ ; Hiroya SHIMASAKI ³ ; Masayasu MIZUTANI ³ ; Noriyuki TANAKA ³ ; Yoichi KAWAMURA ³
Author Information

1. Mie Prefecture Health and Environment Research Institute
2. Graduate School of Bioresources, Mie University
3. Oyamada Memorial Spa Hospital
4. Aichi Medical College for Physical and Occupational Therapy
5. Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University
Keywords: radon; noble gas; radioactive spring; effective dose
From:The Journal of The Japanese Society of Balneology, Climatology and Physical Medicine 2013;76(4):255-262
CountryJapan
Language:Japanese
Abstract: In Japan, the Hot Springs Law and the Guideline of Analytical Methods of Mineral Springs (revised) classify springs containing 74 Bq/kg of radon as “hot springs” and those with radon levels exceeding 111 Bq/kg as “medical springs” called “radioactive spring”. Radon is a noble gas that easily diffuses in air. This study evaluates exposure dose due to radon when using a radioactive spring at a spa in the Toriido area, Komono town, Mie district, Mie prefecture. After bath water was supplied through a pipe from hot spring storage tanks to bathtubs, only 5.3-18.0% of radon remained in the water. Two days later, only 0.3-0.4% of the radon remained in the bath water due to radioactive decay and diffusion into air being increased by bathing and recirculation filtering. The calculated effective dose from bathing in radioactive hot spring was 2.8-12.0 nSv, and that from drinking radioactive hot spring water was 5.1-23.3 nSv. To determine the total effective dose from use of the hot spring facility that may effects on human health, it is necessary to analyze radon concentrations not only in the water but also the surrounding air.