INVESTIGATIONINVESTIGATION OF RADON OF RADON    IN IN THETHE TURKISH BATH OF EGER (HUNGARY)TURKISH BATH OF EGER (HUNGARY)

Norbert Kávási1, Katalin Nagy2, János Somlai1, Tibor Kovács1, István Berhés3, János Bereczki2

1Dept. of Radiochemistry, University of Veszprém, POB 158, 8201 Veszprém, Hungary

2Dept. of Rheumatology, Markhot Ferenc Heves County Hospital, Eger, Hungary

33rdDept.of Internal Medicine 

I. I. Hungarian-Turkish Balneological WorkshopHungarian-Turkish Balneological WorkshopEger, HungaryEger, Hungary

20-23 May, 200420-23 May, 2004

• 1.1. INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

11924 924 -- TThe radon he radon ((222222Rn)Rn)and the radon daughter elements (and the radon daughter elements (218218Po, Po, 214214PoPo) cause) cause

lung cancerlung cancer..

The atmosphere always comprisesThe atmosphere always comprises radon gasradon gas..

It It depends on numerous factors: depends on numerous factors:

--geological conditions, geological conditions,

--distance from surface of the earth, distance from surface of the earth,

--part of the daypart of the day

--meteorological conditionsmeteorological conditions

The radon content of air can increase The radon content of air can increase atat workplaces or dwellings. workplaces or dwellings. The Turkish Bath with radon spa merit particular attentionThe Turkish Bath with radon spa merit particular attention

Hungarian legislation for workplacesHungarian legislation for workplaces

Radon Radon action action level level 1000 Bq/m1000 Bq/m33 yearly average radon concentrationyearly average radon concentrationIt meansIt means 6.3 mSv/year6.3 mSv/year

bbyy

2000 h/year2000 h/year working time andworking time and 0.40.4 equilibrium factorequilibrium factor

Recommended standard for drinking waterRecommended standard for drinking waterAccording to EC Recommendation (2001/928/Euratom)According to EC Recommendation (2001/928/Euratom)

1000 Bq/l1000 Bq/l as an action level as an action level

- continuous measurement of radon - continuous measurement of radon in the air in the air at the Török pool, at the Török pool,

at at the the Pezsgő pool, andPezsgő pool, and in in the sister room the sister room

- - passive integrating radon measurement passive integrating radon measurement in the air in the air at four at four

measurement pointsmeasurement points

- - sampling measurement of radon in spasampling measurement of radon in spa, spring , spring and tap waters and tap waters

2. 2. IINVESTIGATIONSNVESTIGATIONS

33. . Materials and MethodsMaterials and Methods

33.1 Measurement of radon concentration.1 Measurement of radon concentration in air in air

Continuous measurement Continuous measurement ALPHAGUARDALPHAGUARD with ionization chamber with ionization chamberRGM3 with scintillation cellRGM3 with scintillation cellRADIM-5 WP with semiconductor detectorRADIM-5 WP with semiconductor detector

Passive integrating radon measurementPassive integrating radon measurement Tastrak CR-39 Tastrak CR-39 solid track detector solid track detector

(allil-diglikol-carbonate, C(allil-diglikol-carbonate, C1212HH18180077))CalibrationCalibration

IIn a n a Genitron EVO 3209 Genitron EVO 3209 calibration chamber calibration chamber using a using a PYLON 2000A PYLON 2000A radon emanationradon emanation sourcesource

33.2 Measurements of radon concentration in water.2 Measurements of radon concentration in water

RADIM-3 WP with semiconductor detectorRADIM-3 WP with semiconductor detector

4. 4. ResultsResults and conclusionand conclusion

The radon concentration and the relative humidity at the Török pool in August

4.1 4.1 Results of continuous measurementResults of continuous measurement in air in air

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

19:4

5

21:0

5

22:2

5

23:4

5

1:05

2:25

3:45

5:05

6:25

7:45

9:05

10:2

5

11:4

5

13:0

5

14:2

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15:4

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17:0

5

18:2

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19:4

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21:0

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22:2

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23:4

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1:05

2:25

3:45

5:05

6:25

7:45

9:05

10:2

5

11:4

5

13:0

5

Time [h]

Rad

on c

once

ntra

tion

[B

q/m

3 ]

50

55

60

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85

90

95

100

Rel

ativ

e hu

mid

ity

[%]

Radon

Relative humidity

0

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22

:00

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:00

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:00

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:00

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:00

Time [h]

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n [

Bq

/m3 ]

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Rel

ativ

e h

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idit

y [%

]

radon

relative humidity

The radon concentration and the relative humidity at the Török pool in November

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

20:0

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Time [h]

Rad

on c

once

ntr

atio

n ]

Bq

/m3 ]

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Rel

ativ

e h

um

idit

y [%

]

Török

Pezsgő

relative humidity

The radon concentration and the relative humidity at the Török and the Pezsgő pool in March

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

702

0:0

0

22

:00

0:0

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12

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Time [h]

Rad

on c

once

ntr

atio

n [

Bq

/m3 ] November

March

Radon concentration in the sister room in November and March

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Török pool Tükör pool Pezsgő pool Masseur room

Rad

on c

once

ntr

atio

n [

Bq

/m3 ]

August

September

Oktober

November

December

January

February

March

April

The monthly average radon concentration at four measurement points

4.2 4.2 Results of passive integrating radon measurement Results of passive integrating radon measurement in the airin the air

The rThe radon concentration in spa, spring and tap watersadon concentration in spa, spring and tap waters

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Pezsgő pool Tükör pool Török pool Súly pool Meleg pool Kénes pool Tap water Swimmingpool

Józsefspring

Rad

on c

once

ntr

atio

n [

Bq

/dm

3 ]

03.08.2003

28.11.2003

06.03.2004

4.3 4.3 Results of sampling Results of sampling radon radon measurement inmeasurement in water water

55. . SummarySummary

-The radon concentration in air of Turkish Bath fluctuates between 100 The radon concentration in air of Turkish Bath fluctuates between 100

Bq/mBq/m33 and 2000 Bq/m and 2000 Bq/m33

-The radon concentration in the therapeutic waters is above 80 Bq/l and The radon concentration in the therapeutic waters is above 80 Bq/l and

below 1below 1440 Bq/l but the curative effect is experienced0 Bq/l but the curative effect is experienced

-The radon content of drinking waters does not exceed the action levelThe radon content of drinking waters does not exceed the action level

- Intervention on radiation protection is unnecessary due to the powerful - Intervention on radiation protection is unnecessary due to the powerful

ventillationventillation