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Indoor Radon Levels in Thermal Spas and the Compliance with the European BSS Directive: A Portuguese Case Study

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Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health II

Part of the book series: Studies in Systems, Decision and Control ((SSDC,volume 277))

Abstract

Radon is a radioactive gas produced from the decay of uranium. It can be found in many types of soils and rocks, such as granite. Radon is the most important cause of lung cancer after smoking. The aim of this study was to evaluate continuously the radon concentration in two Portuguese thermal spas (A and B) between December 2018 and August 2019 (average of 107 days). The indoor air radon concentration was measured using CR-39 passive detectors in the following spaces: thermal pool, spa pool, ORL (inhalation therapy rooms), vichy shower, vichy nozzle, berthelot, whirlpool cabin and reception. The results showed that the radon concentration values at thermal spa A are much higher than the indoor air radon concentration values obtained at thermal spa B. In fact, 90% (17 values) of the indoor air radon concentration values at thermal spa A do not comply with the reference level established in the EURATOM Directive 2013/59 (300 Bq/m3) and within the Portuguese legislation the Decree-Law 108/2018, of December 3. Therefore, generic and immediate actions should be adopted to reduce the exposure namely: strengthening the ventilation system, providing workers with personal protective equipment, and, informing the workers about the “existing exposure situation”. Long-term actions should also be adopted as foreseen in the Decree-Law 108/2018, of December 3, including developing a radiological control plan for the facilities and workers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CERENA-Polo FEUP - Centre for Natural Resources and the Environment, Porto, Portugal

    Ana Sofia Silva & Maria de Lurdes Dinis

  2. Faculty of Engineering, FEUP, University of Porto, Rua De. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal

    Ana Sofia Silva & Maria de Lurdes Dinis

  3. Departamento de Ciências da Terra, CITEUC, Universidade de Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790, Coimbra, Portugal

    Alcides Pereira

Authors
  1. Ana Sofia Silva
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  2. Maria de Lurdes Dinis
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  3. Alcides Pereira
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maria de Lurdes Dinis .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Production and Systems, School of Engineering, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal

    Pedro M. Arezes

  2. Department of Mining Engineering, Engineering Faculty, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    J. Santos Baptista

  3. Department of Production and Systems, School of Engineering, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal

    Mónica P. Barroso

  4. Department of Production and Systems, School of Engineering, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal

    Paula Carneiro

  5. Department of Production and Systems, School of Engineering, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal

    Patrício Cordeiro

  6. Department of Production and Systems, School of Engineering, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal

    Nélson Costa

  7. Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Cruz Quebrada–Dafundo, Portugal

    Rui B. Melo

  8. Department of Production and Systems, School of Engineering, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal

    A. Sérgio Miguel

  9. Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Gonçalo Perestrelo

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Silva, A.S., Dinis, M.d.L., Pereira, A. (2020). Indoor Radon Levels in Thermal Spas and the Compliance with the European BSS Directive: A Portuguese Case Study. In: Arezes, P., et al. Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health II. Studies in Systems, Decision and Control, vol 277. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41486-3_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41486-3_18

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