Estimate of radon exposure in geothermal SPAs in Poland

• Authors: Katarzyna Walczak , Jerzy Olszewski , Marek Zmyślony

Abstracts

EN

Objectives Geothermal waters may contain soluble, radioactive radon gas. Spa facilities that use geothermal water may be a source of an increased radiation dose to people who stay there. It has been necessary to assess the exposure to radon among people: workers and visitors of spa centers that use geothermal waters. Material and Methods In 2013, workers of the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine measured concentrations of radon over the geothermal water surfaces in 9 selected Polish spa centers which use geothermal water for recreational and medicinal purposes. The measurements were performed by active dosimetry using Lucas scintillation cells. Results According to our research, the doses received by the personnel in Polish geothermal spas are < 0.6 mSv/year. In 1 of the investigated spas, the estimated annual dose to the staff may exceed 3 mSv/year. Conclusions In Polish geothermal spas, neither the workers nor the visitors are at risk of receiving doses that exceed the safe limits.

Keywords

EN

Poland; occupational exposure; worker; radon; ionizing radiation; spa visitor

• Publisher: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. dra Jerzego Nofera w Łodzi
• Journal: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Year: 2015
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 161-166

Dates

published

2016

Contributors

author

Katarzyna Walczak

• Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Department of Radiological Protection)

author

Jerzy Olszewski

• Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Department of Radiological Protection)

author

Marek Zmyślony

• Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Department of Radiological Protection)

Identifiers

DOI

10.13075/ijomeh.1896.00404

Biblioteka Nauki

2177082