ABSTRACT
Objectives: Radon is a major feature of radioactive springs. According to an official notification article in Japan, bathing in radioactive springs may alleviate the effects of hyperuricemia (gout), rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. This study focuses on changes in the body during the use of a low-temperature sauna at a radioactive hot spring.Methods: In this study, we measured the core temperature, skin temperature, and skin blood flow, and performed an emotional assessment (Mood Check List-Short form.2 (MCL-S.2), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS)) in individuals using a sauna at a radioactive spring. Eight healthy adults participated in this study. All participants partook in two sauna interventions, including one sauna with a high radon concentration (approximately 710 Bq/m3) and one with a low radon concentration (approximately 140 Bq/m3). The indoor temperature and relative humidity of the sauna room were approximately 38°C and 78%, respectively. All participants remained in the sauna room for 40 min, and then rested in an antechamber for 40 min.Results and Discussion: Comparing the MCL-S.2 scores, a significant increase was observed in the pleasantness score in the radon intervention. In addition, after comparing the VAS scores, significant improvements in the feelings of coldness and stress were observed only in the radon intervention. Moreover, skin blood flow increased for a longer duration in the radon sauna intervention than the control intervention. The results suggest that using radon saunas gives rise to positive effects, including reducing coldness, feelings of stress, and promoting blood circulation.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>Objectives</b>: Radon is a major feature of radioactive springs. According to an official notification article in Japan, bathing in radioactive springs may alleviate the effects of hyperuricemia (gout), rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. This study focuses on changes in the body during the use of a low-temperature sauna at a radioactive hot spring.</p><p><b>Methods</b>: In this study, we measured the core temperature, skin temperature, and skin blood flow, and performed an emotional assessment (Mood Check List-Short form.2 (MCL-S.2), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS)) in individuals using a sauna at a radioactive spring. Eight healthy adults participated in this study. All participants partook in two sauna interventions, including one sauna with a high radon concentration (approximately 710 Bq/m<sup>3</sup>) and one with a low radon concentration (approximately 140 Bq/m<sup>3</sup>). The indoor temperature and relative humidity of the sauna room were approximately 38°C and 78%, respectively. All participants remained in the sauna room for 40 min, and then rested in an antechamber for 40 min.</p><p><b>Results and Discussion</b>: Comparing the MCL-S.2 scores, a significant increase was observed in the pleasantness score in the radon intervention. In addition, after comparing the VAS scores, significant improvements in the feelings of coldness and stress were observed only in the radon intervention. Moreover, skin blood flow increased for a longer duration in the radon sauna intervention than the control intervention. The results suggest that using radon saunas gives rise to positive effects, including reducing coldness, feelings of stress, and promoting blood circulation.</p>
ABSTRACT
<p><b>Obj</b><b>ectives:</b> Radon is a major feature of radioactive springs. According to an official notification article in Japan, bathing in radioactive springs may alleviate the effects of hyperuricemia (gout), rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. This study focuses on changes in the body during the use of a low-temperature sauna at a radioactive hot spring.</p><p><b>Methods:</b> In this study, we measured the core temperature, skin temperature, and skin blood flow, and performed an emotional assessment (Mood Check List-Short form.2 (MCL-S.2), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS)) in individuals using a sauna at a radioactive spring. Eight healthy adults participated in this study. All participants partook in two sauna interventions, including one sauna with a high radon concentration (approximately 710Bq/m<sup>3</sup>) and one with a low radon concentration (approximately 140Bq/m<sup>3</sup>). The indoor temperature and relative humidity of the sauna room were approximately 38°C and 78%, respectively. All participants remained in the sauna room for 40 min, and then rested in an antechamber for 40 min.</p><p><b>Results and Discussion:</b> Comparing the MCL-S.2 scores, a significant increase was observed in the pleasantness score in the radon intervention. In addition, after comparing the VAS scores, significant improvements in the feelings of coldness and stress were observed only in the radon intervention. Moreover, skin blood flow increased for a longer duration in the radon sauna intervention than the control intervention. The results suggest that using radon saunas gives rise to positive effects, including reducing coldness, feelings of stress, and promoting blood circulation.</p>
ABSTRACT
Objectives: Radon (222Rn) is a noble gas found in the water of hot spring spas (“onsen”). In Japan, the Hot Springs Law and the Guideline of Analytical Methods of Mineral Springs (revised) classify springs containing 74 Bq/kg of radon as “hot springs” and those with levels exceeding 111 Bq/kg as “medical springs”, also called “radioactive springs”. According to the notification article (the Nature Conservation Bureau of the Ministry of the Environment in Japan), bathing in a radioactive springs may alleviate the effects of gout, arteriosclerosis, and hypertension as well as chronic conditions such as cholecystitis, gallstones, and skin and gynecological diseases. Drinking water from these springs may treat gout, chronic digestive disorders, chronic cholecystitis, gallstones, neuralgia, muscle pain, and arthralgia. To determine exposure doses from radioactive springs, it is important to establish an easy and accurate method of measuring radon concentration in water and humid air in bathing areas. Methods: This study measured the concentration of airborne radon using an activated charcoal detector (PICO-RAD: AccuStar Labs), desiccant (Drierite; 8 mesh of anhydrous calcium sulfate: W.A. Hammond Drierite Company, Ltd.), a liquid scintillation counter (LSC LB-5: Hitachi Aloka Medical, Ltd.), and 2,5-diphenyloxazole(DPO) + 1,4-bis (5-phenyl-2-oxazolyl) benzene(POPOP) toluene solution (Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) were used as the liquid scintillator. Results and Conclusions: This study evaluated radon exposure doses due to radioactive spring at a spa in Komono town, Mie prefecture. After water was piped from hot spring storage tanks into bathtubs, only 5.3-18.0% of the radon remained in the water. Two days later, only 0.25% remained, likely due to radioactive decay and increased diffusion into the air from bathing and recirculating filters. Thus, we investigated radon levels in the humid bathroom air around the radioactive hot spring and determined the total radon exposure from spa water and air. The total exposure dose was calculated assuming a two-day stay, during which customers used the bath for some number of hours. Our findings confirm the safety and efficacy of the hot spring facility. This study was supported in part by a grant from the Daido Life Welfare Foundation.
ABSTRACT
<b>Objectives: </b>Radon (<sup>222</sup>Rn) is a noble gas found in the water of hot spring spas (“onsen”). In Japan, the Hot Springs Law and the Guideline of Analytical Methods of Mineral Springs (revised) classify springs containing 74 Bq/kg of radon as “hot springs” and those with levels exceeding 111 Bq/kg as “medical springs”, also called “radioactive springs”. According to the notification article (the Nature Conservation Bureau of the Ministry of the Environment in Japan), bathing in a radioactive springs may alleviate the effects of gout, arteriosclerosis, and hypertension as well as chronic conditions such as cholecystitis, gallstones, and skin and gynecological diseases. Drinking water from these springs may treat gout, chronic digestive disorders, chronic cholecystitis, gallstones, neuralgia, muscle pain, and arthralgia. To determine exposure doses from radioactive springs, it is important to establish an easy and accurate method of measuring radon concentration in water and humid air in bathing areas.<BR><b>Methods: </b>This study measured the concentration of airborne radon using an activated charcoal detector (PICO-RAD: AccuStar Labs), desiccant (Drierite; 8 mesh of anhydrous calcium sulfate: W.A. Hammond Drierite Company, Ltd.), a liquid scintillation counter (LSC LB-5: Hitachi Aloka Medical, Ltd.), and 2,5-diphenyloxazole(DPO) + 1,4-bis (5-phenyl-2-oxazolyl) benzene(POPOP) toluene solution (Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) were used as the liquid scintillator.<BR><b>Results and Conclusions: </b>This study evaluated radon exposure doses due to radioactive spring at a spa in Komono town, Mie prefecture. After water was piped from hot spring storage tanks into bathtubs, only 5.3-18.0% of the radon remained in the water. Two days later, only 0.25% remained, likely due to radioactive decay and increased diffusion into the air from bathing and recirculating filters. Thus, we investigated radon levels in the humid bathroom air around the radioactive hot spring and determined the total radon exposure from spa water and air. The total exposure dose was calculated assuming a two-day stay, during which customers used the bath for some number of hours. Our findings confirm the safety and efficacy of the hot spring facility. This study was supported in part by a grant from the Daido Life Welfare Foundation.
ABSTRACT
In Japan, the Hot Springs Law and the Guideline of Analytical Methods of Mineral Springs (revised) classify springs containing 74 Bq/kg of radon as “hot springs” and those with radon levels exceeding 111 Bq/kg as “medical springs” called “radioactive spring”. Radon is a noble gas that easily diffuses in air. This study evaluates exposure dose due to radon when using a radioactive spring at a spa in the Toriido area, Komono town, Mie district, Mie prefecture. After bath water was supplied through a pipe from hot spring storage tanks to bathtubs, only 5.3-18.0% of radon remained in the water. Two days later, only 0.3-0.4% of the radon remained in the bath water due to radioactive decay and diffusion into air being increased by bathing and recirculation filtering. The calculated effective dose from bathing in radioactive hot spring was 2.8-12.0 nSv, and that from drinking radioactive hot spring water was 5.1-23.3 nSv. To determine the total effective dose from use of the hot spring facility that may effects on human health, it is necessary to analyze radon concentrations not only in the water but also the surrounding air.
ABSTRACT
In Japan, the Hot Springs Law and the Guideline of Analytical Methods of Mineral Springs (revised) classify springs containing 74 Bq/kg of radon as “hot springs” and those with radon levels exceeding 111 Bq/kg as “medical springs” called “radioactive spring”. Radon is a noble gas that easily diffuses in air.<BR> This study evaluates exposure dose due to radon when using a radioactive spring at a spa in the Toriido area, Komono town, Mie district, Mie prefecture.<BR> After bath water was supplied through a pipe from hot spring storage tanks to bathtubs, only 5.3-18.0% of radon remained in the water. Two days later, only 0.3-0.4% of the radon remained in the bath water due to radioactive decay and diffusion into air being increased by bathing and recirculation filtering.<BR> The calculated effective dose from bathing in radioactive hot spring was 2.8-12.0 nSv, and that from drinking radioactive hot spring water was 5.1-23.3 nSv. To determine the total effective dose from use of the hot spring facility that may effects on human health, it is necessary to analyze radon concentrations not only in the water but also the surrounding air.