Environmental Study on Radioactivity of the Spas in the Island of Ikaria

Abstract

A preliminary study has been conducted on the natural radioactivity of the thermal spas in Ikaria Island. In order to carry out this research. (a) Car-borne radiometry has been applied in the areas around the spas and an elevated average natural background dose rate, 0.14 µGy.h-1, in comparison with other Greek areas has been measured. (b) The activity concentrations of the natural radionuclides of the 238U-226Ra and 232Th decay series, as well as 40K, in spa water, soil, sediment, surface sea water and marine flora samples in the areas of the spas were measured and the distribution of these radionuclides in the abiotic materials was evaluated. (c) The effective dose equivalent due to the consumption of spa drinking water has been estimated. This first evaluation shows that elevated activity concentrations of the environmental abiotic materials are present, which are reflected in the concentrations observed in marine flora. Based on experimental data for the main areas of interest, the observed range of dose rate for the population due to the natural radioactivity of the environmental abiotic component is 175-3133 µSv.y-1. This seems to be higher than other Greek areas. The effective dose equivalent due to the drinking water is also found to be enhanced when compared with the respective values reported in the literature.