Abstract
In Morocco, thermal waters have been used for decades for the treatment of various diseases. To explore the exposure pathway of 238U, 232Th and 222Rn to the skin of bathers from the immersion in thermal waters, these radionuclides were measured inside waters collected from different Moroccan thermal springs, by means of CR-39 and LR-115 type II solid-state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs), and corresponding annual committed effective doses to skin were determined. Accordingly, to assess radiation dose due to radon short-lived decay products from the inhalation of air by individuals, concentrations of these radionuclides were measured in indoor air of two thermal stations by evaluating mean critical angles of etching of the CR-39 and LR-115 II SSNTDs. Committed effective doses due to the short-lived radon decay products 218Po and 214Po by bathers and working personnel inside the thermal stations studied were determined.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the responsible persons of the Moulay Yaacoub and Ain Allah thermal stations for their collaboration. This work was performed under an URAC-15 research contract with the CNRST, Rabat, Morocco.
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Misdaq, M.A., Ghilane, M., Ouguidi, J. et al. Radiation doses to individuals due to 238U, 232Th and 222Rn from the immersion in thermal waters and to radon progeny from the inhalation of air inside thermal stations. Radiat Environ Biophys 51, 375–389 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-012-0426-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-012-0426-9