ABSTRACT
In the European countries of advanced balneology, the hot spring treatments based on scientific grounds are provided widely in the hot spring hospitals and medical facilities under medical doctors. On the other, in our country the hot springs are mainly utilized as the source of “a feeling” such as hot spring cure, sightseeing, or leisure, but not used as a complementary treatment to modern medicine in order to enhance our health. The Izu Peninsula, a very limited area of Japan, consists of various strata due to the submarine volcanoes, the land volcanoes and the simple volcanoes. Those strata are distributed over the Izu Peninsula like a mosaic, and there are many hot springs on each stratum. Since such a place is very rare in the world, the Izu Peninsula is thought to be the most suitable place to investigate various hot springs scientifically. Thus I visited these spring resorts, obtained a hot spring analysis book (onsenbunsekisho) from each hot spring facility and clarified the characteristics of each hot spring based on the information from its analysis book. The present study shows that there are three kinds of hot springs in the Izu Peninsula: sulfate springs, chloride springs and simple hot springs. The origin of the sulfate springs in the old strata of Nishi-Izu and Naka-Izu is mainly due to the green tuff produced from the submarine volcanoes. The densities of sulfate ions in these springs are very high, suggesting their high pharmacological effects on several medical symptoms. In addition, the chloride springs in Mimami-Izu are hypertonic due to highly concentrated sodium ions, calcium ions and chloride ions, and thus expected to have detox effects on radioactive materials such as cesium 137 and strontium 90 by bathing in this type of spring. The simple hot springs in Nishi-Izu and Naka-Izu have the property of a sulfate spring, those in Higashi-Izu have the properties of sulfate and chloride springs, but those in Minami-Izu have many properties due to various negative ions such as hydrogen carbonate and carbonate. The future research themes for the establishment of balneology by using the hot springs in the Izu Peninsula are as follows: (1) Comparison of the chemical ingredients in the hot spring source water with those in its corresponding bathtub water; to examine changes in the physical and chemical properties of the water during the water-supply process. (2) Quantitative analyses of mineral components in the hot spring waters suited for drinking use; to find out existing amounts of the minerals in the antioxidant enzymes, and those of the minerals scarce in everyday life. (3) Establishment of indexes of the pharmacological effects of the sulfate springs by using laboratory animals or iPS cells; to evaluate scientifically the effects of the anions and cations in the sulfate springs on the animals or the cells. (4) Examination of the detox effect from bathing in the hypertonic chloride spring on cesium 137 and strontium 90; to find out the possibility of reducing the radiation exposure of the people exposed to the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident. (5) Examination of the protective effect of bathing in the simple hot springs on medical exposure disorders; to find out the possibility of preventing and mitigating the medical exposure disorders of exposed patients through radiation diagnosis and therapy.
ABSTRACT
<p> In the European countries of advanced balneology, the hot spring treatments based on scientific grounds are provided widely in the hot spring hospitals and medical facilities under medical doctors. On the other, in our country the hot springs are mainly utilized as the source of “a feeling” such as hot spring cure, sightseeing, or leisure, but not used as a complementary treatment to modern medicine in order to enhance our health.</p><p> The Izu Peninsula, a very limited area of Japan, consists of various strata due to the submarine volcanoes, the land volcanoes and the simple volcanoes. Those strata are distributed over the Izu Peninsula like a mosaic, and there are many hot springs on each stratum. Since such a place is very rare in the world, the Izu Peninsula is thought to be the most suitable place to investigate various hot springs scientifically.</p><p> Thus I visited these spring resorts, obtained a hot spring analysis book (onsenbunsekisho) from each hot spring facility and clarified the characteristics of each hot spring based on the information from its analysis book. The present study shows that there are three kinds of hot springs in the Izu Peninsula: sulfate springs, chloride springs and simple hot springs. </p><p> The origin of the sulfate springs in the old strata of Nishi-Izu and Naka-Izu is mainly due to the green tuff produced from the submarine volcanoes. The densities of sulfate ions in these springs are very high, suggesting their high pharmacological effects on several medical symptoms.</p><p> In addition, the chloride springs in Mimami-Izu are hypertonic due to highly concentrated sodium ions, calcium ions and chloride ions, and thus expected to have detox effects on radioactive materials such as cesium 137 and strontium 90 by bathing in this type of spring.</p><p> The simple hot springs in Nishi-Izu and Naka-Izu have the property of a sulfate spring, those in Higashi-Izu have the properties of sulfate and chloride springs, but those in Minami-Izu have many properties due to various negative ions such as hydrogen carbonate and carbonate. </p><p> The future research themes for the establishment of balneology by using the hot springs in the Izu Peninsula are as follows:</p><p> (1) Comparison of the chemical ingredients in the hot spring source water with those in its corresponding bathtub water; to examine changes in the physical and chemical properties of the water during the water-supply process.</p><p> (2) Quantitative analyses of mineral components in the hot spring waters suited fordrinking use; to find out existing amounts of the minerals in the antioxidant enzymes, and those of the minerals scarce in everyday life.</p><p> (3) Establishment of indexes of the pharmacological effects of the sulfate springs by using laboratory animals or iPS cells; to evaluate scientifically the effects of the anions and cations in the sulfate springs on the animals or the cells.</p><p> (4) Examination of the detox effect from bathing in the hypertonic chloride spring on cesium 137 and strontium 90; to find out the possibility of reducing the radiation exposure of the people exposed to the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident.</p><p> (5) Examination of the protective effect of bathing in the simple hot springs on medical exposure disorders; to find out the possibility of preventing and mitigating the medical exposure disorders of exposed patients through radiation diagnosis and therapy. </p>
ABSTRACT
Many things are unknown about the radioactive hot springs. We have not yet obtained the conclusive evidence of whether the low dose of radiation by radon in the hot springs is healthful or harmful for us. Thus, to grasp the present conditions of the radioactive hot springs scientifically, I reviewed them from the many-sided viewpoints in the following order. At first, some basic information on the radioactive hot springs was summarized to look around them all over. Next, based on the hot spring analysis tables obtained from three representative hot spring resorts in our country, the effective ingredients such as radon, metals, and several kinds of ions presented in the spring waters were evaluated for each hot spring. Then, radon as an element, the radon exposure, and the active oxygen species generated by the radiation of radon were explained to understand the fundamental action of radon. Furthermore, some reports related to the lung cancer risk by inhaling radon were introduced to take the cancer risk in the radioactive hot springs into consideration. Since the oxidative DNA damage induced by hydroxyl radical is considered to be a cause for cancers, it was discussed that the urinary concentrations of 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a marker of the DNA damage, could be used as an index for evaluating the effects of the radioactive hot springs on human health.
ABSTRACT
Many things are unknown about the radioactive hot springs. We have not yet obtained the conclusive evidence of whether the low dose of radiation by radon in the hot springs is healthful or harmful for us. Thus, to grasp the present conditions of the radioactive hot springs scientifically, I reviewed them from the many-sided viewpoints in the following order. At first, some basic information on the radioactive hot springs was summarized to look around them all over. Next, based on the hot spring analysis tables obtained from three representative hot spring resorts in our country, the effective ingredients such as radon, metals, and several kinds of ions presented in the spring waters were evaluated for each hot spring. Then, radon as an element, the radon exposure, and the active oxygen species generated by the radiation of radon were explained to understand the fundamental action of radon. Furthermore, some reports related to the lung cancer risk by inhaling radon were introduced to take the cancer risk in the radioactive hot springs into consideration. Since the oxidative DNA damage induced by hydroxyl radical is considered to be a cause for cancers, it was discussed that the urinary concentrations of 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a marker of the DNA damage, could be used as an index for evaluating the effects of the radioactive hot springs on human health.
ABSTRACT
Recently, new hot springs are born in Tokyo one after another. Most of these are artificial hot springs by digging deep under the ground on the bowling, and pumping up the deep water warmed by the heat source of geothermal gradient. Maeda et al. have investigated the ingredients in these hot springs of Tokyo 23 wards, and concluded that they are medically effective to promote health. It is unclear, however, how much these hot springs are medically effective compared to the well-known volcanic hot springs. Thus, sodium-chloride type hot springs (Tokyo-A & Atami) and sodium-hydrogen carbonate type hot springs (Tokyo-B & Naruko) were chosen, and their analytical tables of chemical compositions were obtained from each hot spring resort through the Internet. Comparisons of the ingredients shown in the analytical tables were carried out to clarify difference between the artificial hot springs and the volcanic hot springs. Since Tokyo-A and Tokyo-B do not belong to volcanic hot springs, their source temperatures are lower than the source temperatures of Atami and Naruko, and they do not contain various pharmacologically effective chemicals, such as sulfur compounds, free carbonate, etc. Furthermore, the modulation effects by the environmental factors such as hot spring location, climate, landscape etc. cannot be expected for the hot springs in Tokyo. However, the physical effects of hydrostatic pressure and buoyancy are expected in Tokyo-A containing large amounts of seawater components. The most important medical effects of hot springs are considered to be suppressing active oxygen species and their activities, and repairing the cells damaged by the active oxygen species. From these points, although Tokyo hot springs have some healing effects, the medical effects as observed in the volcanic hot springs cannot be expected in Tokyo hot springs. For the establishment of balneology, the evaluations of each hot spring based on scientifically accurate information are required.
ABSTRACT
Recently, new hot springs are born in Tokyo one after another. Most of these are artificial hot springs by digging deep under the ground on the bowling, and pumping up the deep water warmed by the heat source of geothermal gradient. Maeda et al. have investigated the ingredients in these hot springs of Tokyo 23 wards, and concluded that they are medically effective to promote health. It is unclear, however, how much these hot springs are medically effective compared to the well-known volcanic hot springs.<BR> Thus, sodium-chloride type hot springs (Tokyo-A & Atami) and sodium-hydrogen carbonate type hot springs (Tokyo-B & Naruko) were chosen, and their analytical tables of chemical compositions were obtained from each hot spring resort through the Internet. Comparisons of the ingredients shown in the analytical tables were carried out to clarify difference between the artificial hot springs and the volcanic hot springs.<BR> Since Tokyo-A and Tokyo-B do not belong to volcanic hot springs, their source temperatures are lower than the source temperatures of Atami and Naruko, and they do not contain various pharmacologically effective chemicals, such as sulfur compounds, free carbonate, etc. Furthermore, the modulation effects by the environmental factors such as hot spring location, climate, landscape etc. cannot be expected for the hot springs in Tokyo. However, the physical effects of hydrostatic pressure and buoyancy are expected in Tokyo-A containing large amounts of seawater components.<BR> The most important medical effects of hot springs are considered to be suppressing active oxygen species and their activities, and repairing the cells damaged by the active oxygen species. From these points, although Tokyo hot springs have some healing effects, the medical effects as observed in the volcanic hot springs cannot be expected in Tokyo hot springs. For the establishment of balneology, the evaluations of each hot spring based on scientifically accurate information are required.