Estimation of dose rates to humans exposed to elevated natural radioactivity through different pathways in the island of Ikaria, Greece

Abstract

A radiological survey has been carried out in the island of Ikaria based on the natural radionuclide inventory in abiotic environment and the consequent dose rate assessment for the critical groups of population. The island of Ikaria-Aegean Sea, Greece is characterised by the presence of mineral and thermo-mineral springs, which have an apparent influence on natural background radiation of the island. The levels of natural radionuclides in spring water (either for spa treatment and household use), potable water (local domestic network), and rock and soil samples were measured in this island. The concentrations of (222)Rn and natural gamma emitters were found to be significantly elevated in spring water and some rock and soil samples. In terms of NORM and TENORM, the external and internal dose rates (mSv y(-1)) were estimated in three groups of population selected on the basis of water use as: habitants of the island, working personnel and bathers in spa installations. According to the derived results, the working personnel in the thermal spa installations are exposed to significant radiological risk due to waterborne (222)Rn with a maximum dose rate up to 35 mSv y(-1), which led to overexposure in terms of the 20 mSv y(-1) professional limits. Therefore, this group can be considered as the critical one for the radiological impact assessment in the island.

Radon Levels in Portuguese Thermal Spas

“…Several studies have been conducted worldwide to measure the concentration of radon in the water and in the air of thermal spas in order to estimate the exposure doses both for workers and for users [8,10,11,12,13,14,15]. Recently, a study carried out in thermal spas from Ischia Island showed that the average annual effective dose to workers due to radon exposure (3,52 mSv/y; range 0,01-7,03 mSv/y) was higher than the dose limit imposed by Italian legislation (3 mSv) [16].…”

Description of Lifestyle, Including Social Life, Diet and Physical Activity, of People ≥90 years Living in Ikaria, a Longevity Blue Zone

“…In our study, few OOs went to radioactive hot springs but many of them went to swim in the Icarian Pelagos, the sea around the island, until old age. Moreover, they spent a large part of their life exposed to radiation of terrestrial origin, which is higher in the western and northwestern parts of the island than in the eastern part [ 30 ]. Thus, one of the new aspects of this study is the fact that we assessed whether the OOs living in the Ikaria LBZ visited the radioactive hot springs.…”

Dosimetry modelling of transient radon and progeny concentration peaks: results from in situ measurements in Ikaria spas, Greece

“…5,6,10,11,[14][15][16][17][18] The issue is credited locally in Greece as well. 7,9,12,13,[19][20][21][22][23][24] Since 2007, researchers have attempted to describe transient concentration peaks of radon and progeny in thermal spas, via dynamical semi-empirical modelling of physical parameters that are involved and impose difficulties in measurement. 12,13,21 This kind of modelling rendered the successful delineation of the concentration proles of radon and progeny in several spa environments and provided an alternative approach for the estimation of the Potential Alpha Energy Concentration (PAEC) and dose.…”

“…3,4 Radon and progeny are important agents of the radiation burden of visitors and working personnel in thermal spas. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] The elevated concentration of radon in the inowing water and the applied hydro-mechanical ux techniques increase ambient concentrations of radon and progeny and intensify human radiation burden. 13,25 The European Union acknowledged this…”