Radiation Protection Dosimetry Advance Access originally published online on December 13, 2006
Radiation Protection Dosimetry 2007 123(4):505-508; doi:10.1093/rpd/ncl524
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Radiological studies in the hot spring region of Mahallat, Central Iran
1 Department of Physics, Idaho State University, Campus Box 8106, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA
2 Department of Biophysics, Tarbiat Modarress University, Box 144155-4838, Tehran, Iran
3 National Radiation Protection Department, Iranian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, Box 14155-4494, Tehran, Iran
* Corresponding author: mbeitollahi{at}physics.isu.edu
Received July 4, 2006, amended October 31, 2006, accepted November 3, 2006
| Abstract |
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Five hot springs called Abegarm-e-Mahallat, located in the central part of Iran, have a mean water temperature of 46 ± 1°C and are used by visitors as spas. This is an area of high natural radiation background due to the presence of 226Ra and its decay products in the deposited travertine (CaCO3). The mean concentration of 226Ra in these hot springs, measured by the emanation method, ranged from 0.48 ± 0.05 to 1.35 ± 0.13 Bq l1. 222Rn concentrations measured in the hot springs using a liquid scintillation counter ranged from 145 ± 37 to 2731 ± 98 Bq l1. Mean radon concentrations in air were 487 ± 160 and 15.4 ± 2.7 Bq m3 for indoor and outdoor, respectively. Radiation levels above that of normal background (
100 nGy h1) 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.