Radiological studies in the hot spring region of Mahallat, Central Iran

Abstract

Five hot springs called 'Abegarm-e-Mahallat', located in the central part of Iran, have a mean water temperature of 46 +/- 1 degrees C and are used by visitors as spas. This is an area of high natural radiation background due to the presence of (226)Ra and its decay products in the deposited travertine (CaCO(3)). The mean concentration of (226)Ra in these hot springs, measured by the emanation method, ranged from 0.48 +/- 0.05 to 1.35 +/- 0.13 Bq l(-1). (222)Rn concentrations measured in the hot springs using a liquid scintillation counter ranged from 145 +/- 37 to 2731 +/- 98 Bq l(-1). Mean radon concentrations in air were 487 +/- 160 and 15.4 +/- 2.7 Bq m(-3) for indoor and outdoor, respectively. Radiation levels above that of normal background ( approximately 100 nGy h(-1)) were mainly limited to the Quaternary travertine formations in the vicinity of the hot springs. The results of environmental radiological studies in this region are presented and discussed.

Measurements of Radon Content in the Thermal Waters in Sakarya

“…The activity concentrations of thermal waters measured in this study is slightly higher than those reported from Amasya [15]. On the other hand, there are geothermal aquifers where radon activity can reach higher levels than our results [9].…”

“…As can be seen from Table, radon levels recorded in the present study are relatively low when they are compared to corresponding radon activity measured in Italy [5], in Venezuela [8], in Iran [9], in Serbia [10] and also is lower than those reported from other parts of Turkey namely Dikili [12] and Bursa [14], but comparable to radon levels reported from Yalova [11] and from West Anatolia [13]. It is interesting to note that both of Yalova and Sakarya lie on North Anatolian Faulth Zone.…”

“…However, a very high level of radon in ingested drinking water can also leads to a significant risk of stomach cancer [7]. Because of its potential health hazard, radon level in thermal waters and associated effective doses have been documented in many regions worldwide for decades [5,[8][9][10] and also led to extensive surveys in Turkey [11][12][13][14][15]. In the present study, the radon contents of thermal waters located in Kuzuluk and Taraklı regions of Sakarya were measured and the results were evaluated according to international recommendations.…”

222Ra and 226Ra in geothermal waters of Bayındır-Izmir (Turkey)

“…HCO 3 -determination was made by using phenolphthalein and methyl orange indicators titrated with 0.1 N HCl solutions (Bolca et al 2007;Tabar et al 2013 (Planinic et al 1996), Denizli/Turkey (Erees et al 2006), Hungary (Nagy et al 2009), Bursa/ Turkey (Gurler et al 2010), India (Chaudhuri et al 2010), Northwestern Romania (Roba et al 2012), Seferihisar/ Turkey (Tabar et al 2013). Beitollahi et al (2007) clarified that the higher radon levels (145-2731 Bq/l) in Iran hot springs are derived from travertine deposits (CaCO 3 ). In another study performed with waters from Etna Montain (Italy), while radon concentration vary from 1.4 to 12.7 Bq/l, radium concentrations found up to 12.0 Bq/l (Kozlowska et al 2009).…”

Medical Geology

“…Beitollahi et al (2007) investigated five hot springs called Abegarm-e-Mahallat located in Markazi Province, central Iran. Beitollahi et al (2007) investigated five hot springs called Abegarm-e-Mahallat located in Markazi Province, central Iran.…”