Preliminary background indoor EMF measurements in Greece.

The main purpose of this work was to investigate the fluctuation of Greek indoor electromagnetic field (EMF) intensity values and identify peaks that might occur. The scientific interest is mainly focused on the bands of extremely low-frequency (ELF) magnetic fields and radiofrequency (RF) electric fields which have been suggested to be possibly carcinogenic to humans by the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR). Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) measurements were performed in a variety of indoor dwellings, in Attica and in the islands of Zakynthos and Lesvos. A total number of 4540 measurements were taken in a wide frequency range (50 Hz-2100 MHz) of which 3301 in Attica, 963 in Lesvos and 276 in Zakynthos. Statistical analysis of the data revealed specific statistically significant differences between the mean values of the electric (ELF and RF) but not the magnetic (ELF) field strengths measured at different distances from the EMF source, as well as between some of the mean values of the RF electric field at different bands. Some statistically significant differences between mean electric field values at different geographic locations were also identified. As far as the RF electric field is concerned, the maximum values, in most cases, were below 0.5 V/m, however increased values above 1 V/m and up to 5.6 V/m were occasionally observed. The ELF magnetic field values were lower than 1 µT. It may be concluded that overall, the observed indoor EMF intensity values remained well below domestic and European established limits.

Radon sources and associated risk in terms of exposure and dose.

Radon concerns the international scientific community from the early twentieth century, initially as radium emanation and nearly the second half of the century as a significant hazard to human health. The initial brilliant period of its use as medicine was followed by a period of intense concern for its health effects. Miners in Europe and later in the U.S were the primary target groups surveyed. Nowadays, there is a concrete evidence that radon and its progeny can cause lung cancer (1). Human activities may create or modify pathways increasing indoor radon concentration compared to outdoor background. These pathways can be controlled by preventive and corrective actions (2). Indoor radon and its short-lived progeny either attached on aerosol particles or free, compose an air mixture that carries a significant energy amount [Potential Alpha-Energy Concentration (PAEC)]. Prior research at that topic focused on the exposure on PAEC and the dose delivered by the human body or tissues. Special mention was made to the case of water workers due to inadequate data. Furthermore, radon risk assessment and relevant legislation for the dose delivered by man from radon and its progeny has been also reviewed.

Dosimetry modelling of transient radon and progeny concentration peaks: results from in situ measurements in Ikaria spas, Greece.

Radon and progeny ((218)Po, (214)Pb, (214)Bi and (214)Po) are radioactive indoor pollutants recognised for the human radiation burden that they induce. Bathing in thermal spas causes transient concentration peaks of radon and progeny and additional short-term impact in patients and personnel. This paper reports a semi-empirical non-linear first order model for describing radon and progeny variations in treatment rooms of the Ikaria spas. Non-measured physical parameters were estimated from in situ measurements in Ikaria through non-linear numerical solving. Exposure and dose variations were additionally modelled. Attachment rate constants were found to be between 0.44 and 55 h(-1). Deposition rate constants were between 0.28 and 7.3 h(-1) for attached nuclei and 0.42 and 64 h(-1) for unattached nuclei. Unattached progeny peaks were right-shifted compared to those of radon. Modelled effective doses ranged between 0.001 mSv per year and 0.589 mSv per year for patients and between 0.001 mSv per year and 18.9 mSv per year for workers. Apollon spas presented quite high doses. These were the highest reported in Greece and are significant worldwide.

Investigation of the exposure to radon and progeny in the thermal spas of Loutraki (Attica-Greece): results from measurements and modelling.

Radon and progeny ((218)Po, (214)Pb, (214)Bi and (214)Po) in thermal spas are well known radioactive pollutants identified for additional radiation burden of patients due to the activity concentration peaks which appear during bath treatment or due to drinking of waters of high radon content. This burden affects additionally the working personnel of the spas. The present paper has focused on the thermal spas of Loutraki (Attica-Greece). The aim was the investigation of the health impact for patients and working personnel due to radon and progeny. Attention has been paid to radon and progeny transient concentration peaks (for bath treatment) and to radon of thermal waters (both for bath treatment and drinking therapy). Designed experiments have been carried out, which included radon and progeny activity concentration measurements in thermal waters and ambient air. Additionally, published models for description of radon and progeny transient concentration peaks were employed. The models were based on physicochemical processes involved and employed non linear first order derivative mass balance differential equations which were solved numerically with the aid of specially developed computer codes. The collected measurements were analysed incorporating these models. Results were checked via non linear statistical tests. Predictions and measurements were found in close agreement. Non linear parameters were estimated. The models were employed for dosimetric estimations of patients and working personnel. The effective doses of patients receiving bath treatment were found low but not negligible. The corresponding doses to patients receiving potable treatment were found high but below the proposed international limits. It was found that the working personnel are exposed to considerable effective doses, however well below the acceptable limits for workers. It was concluded that treatment and working in the Loutraki spas leads to intense variations of radon and progeny and consequently additional health impact both to patients and working personnel.

Modelling of radon concentration peaks in thermal spas: application to Polichnitos and Eftalou spas (Lesvos Island--Greece).

A mathematical model was developed for the description of radon concentration peaks observed in thermal spas. Modelling was based on a pragmatic mix of estimation and measurement of involved physical parameters. The model utilised non-linear first order derivative mass balance differential equations. The equations were described and solved numerically by the use of specially developed computer codes. To apply and check the model, measurements were performed in two thermal spas in Greece (Polichnitos and Eftalou-Lesvos Island). Forty different measurement sets were collected to estimate the concentration variations of indoor-outdoor radon, radon in the entering thermal water, the ventilation rate, the bathtub surface and the bath volume. Turbulence and diffusive phenomena involved in radon concentration variations were attributed to a time varying contact interfacial area (equivalent area). This area was approximated with the use of a mathematical function. Other model parameters were estimated from the literature. Through numerical solving and use of non-linear statistics, the time variations of the equivalent area were estimated for every measurement set. Computationally applied non-linear uncertainty analysis showed less sensitive variations of the coefficients of the equivalent area compared to parameters of the model. Modelled and measured radon concentration peaks were compared by the use of three statistical criteria for the goodness-of-fit. All the investigated peaks exhibited low error probability (***p<0.001) for all criteria. It was concluded that the present modelling achieved to predict the measured radon concentration peaks. Through adequate selection of model parameters the model may be applied to other thermal spas.

Modelling radon progeny concentration variations in thermal spas.

Radon and its short-lived progenies (218Po, 214Pb, 214Bi and 214Po) are well known radioactive indoor pollutants identified as the major radiation burden component of the thermal spa users. Monitoring of short-lived progeny concentration is of great importance for short-term dose estimations both for bathers and working personnel. A prediction model of the short-lived progeny concentration variations was developed and applied on published data of the thermal spas of Lesvos Island. The physical procedures involved were modeled in a set of differential equations describing radon progeny concentration variations on the basis of radon measurements. Published daughter data were fitted on model predictions adjusting non-measured parameters, e.g. attachment and deposition rate constants for attached and unattached progenies. Attachment rate constants were estimated between 50 and 200 h-1 while the deposition rate constants between 0.25 and 5 h-1 for attached progenies and 0.5 and 170 h-1 for the unattached ones. In addition, unattached 218Po, 214Pb and 214Bi progenies were found to be shifted forward in respect to radon approximately 0.001 h, 0.05 h and 0.40 h respectively, while attached 218Po, 214Pb and 214Bi progenies 0.05 h, 0.45 h and 0.65 h respectively.

Preliminary survey of outdoor gamma dose rates in Lesvos Island (Greece).

This study reports the first attempt to record the radioactive background due to gamma radiation in Lesvos Island (Greece). The study reports the results from 335 outdoor total gamma effective dose rate measurements conducted using GPS navigation and a Geiger-Muller detector (Bicron, Micro Sievert) on the whole surface of the island together with a digital map produced by appropriate mapping GIS programme. The study also reports the measurements of outdoor gamma dose rates due to the 238U, 232Th and 40K radionuclides as estimated via in situ gamma-ray spectrometry measurements performed at 26 sites using a 3 x 3 inch NaI (thallium activated) portable detector. The results from the outdoor total gamma effective dose rates range between 0.0023 and 0.28 microSv h(-1). The highest outdoor total gamma effective dose rates (0.013-0.28 microSv h(-1)) were detected in the northeastern part of the island and the intermediate rates (0.066-0.13 microSv h(-1)) in the central region. The outdoor gamma dose rates due to 238U, 232Th and 40K radionuclides range between 1.7 +/- 0.8 and 154 +/- 7 nGy h(-1) with an average of 86 +/- 6 nGy h(-1). The average contribution of each of the examined radionuclides (238U, 232Th and 40K) to the total gamma dose rate was found to be equal to 12 +/- 4% for 238U, 58 +/- 6% for 232Th and 29 +/- 7% for 40K, respectively.

Radon variations during treatment in thermal spas of Lesvos Island (Greece).

The aim of this paper was to study the variations of radon and daughter nuclei during treatment in the thermal spas of Lesvos Island (Greece). For this purpose, in the thermal spas of Lesvos we have measured the radon concentrations of thermal waters, as well as indoor radon, daughter and coarse particle (>500 nm) concentrations. Various instruments and procedures were employed for measurements. Radon concentrations of thermal waters were found to lie in the range 10 Bq l(-1) and 304 Bq l(-1). Concentration peaks both for radon, radon daughter and coarse particle, were found to appear during filling of baths in the treatment process. The doses delivered to the bathers during treatment were in the range of 0.00670-0.1279 mSv per year, while the doses delivered to personnel were below 20 mSv per year.

Radon variations during treatment in thermal spas of Lesvos Island (Greece).

The aim of this paper was to study the variations of radon and daughter nuclei during treatment in the thermal spas of Lesvos Island (Greece). For this purpose, in the thermal spas of Lesvos we have measured the radon concentrations of thermal waters, as well as indoor radon, daughter and coarse particle (>500 nm) concentration. Various instruments and procedures were employed for measurements. Radon concentrations of thermal waters were found to lie in the range 10 and 304 Bq l(-1). Concentration peaks both for radon, radon daughter and coarse particle, were found to appear during filling of baths in the treatment process. The doses delivered to the bathers during treatment were in the range of 0.00670 mSv per year to 0.1279 mSv per year, while the doses delivered to personnel were below 20 mSv per year.