238U and 232Th Contents in Essential Plant Oils: Alpha and Beta Radiation Doses to the Skin of Bathers in Spa Rooms

Abstract

Essential plant oils are widely used by bathers in spa rooms for body firming, anti-aging, and anti-wrinkle and skin firming. To explore the exposure pathway of 238 U, 232 Th and their progenies to the skin of bathers in spa rooms, these radionuclides were measured in various essential oils extracted from different plants by using CR-39 and LR-115 II solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs). Annual equivalent doses to skin due to alpha-and beta-particles emitted by the radionuclides of the 238 U and 232 Th series from the application of different plant oil samples by adult male bathers in spa rooms were evaluated. The influence of the essential plant oil nature and exposure time of bathers in spa rooms was investigated. The maximum total equivalent dose to the skin of bathers in spa rooms, due to the application of L'olivier plant oil during 4 hours per week, was found equal to 0.6 mSv y-1 cm-2 .