Assessment of Effective Dose from Radioactive Isotopes Contained in Mineral Waters Received by Patients During Hydrotherapy Treatments

Maria Karpińska,Agnieszka Raciborska,Jacek Kapała,Stanisław Mnich

doi:10.3390/w12010097

Abstract

Hydrotherapy is a natural treatment and health protection method. Treatments using natural mineral water are gaining popularity as an alternative to pharmacotherapy or as additional support to pharmacotherapy in many types of diseases. The aim of the study was to determine the effective dose obtained as a result of baths and inhalations using popular mineral water samples. A total of 18 commercially available water samples used in hydrotherapy were tested for their radioactive isotope content. The following isotopes were found: 40K, 208Tl, 212Bi, 212Pb, 214Bi, 214Pb, 226Ra, 228Ac, 234Th. Effective doses received by patients during inhalation and bathing using the tested mineral water samples were determined. The collected sample activity was measured using gamma spectrometry. The effective doses received by patients from a series of inhalation treatments ranged from 170.4 to 22.9 µSv. Infants receive the highest effective dose as a result of inhalation of mineral water. The doses received by patients as a result of bathing in the studied mineral water samples were in the range of from 0.04 to 1.1 µSv and were comparable with doses from ordinary baths in tap water (0.06 µSv). The determined doses are very low; thus, they are unlikely to cause noticeable biological effects.

Highlights

In recent years, there has been growing interest in natural treatments and health protection methods.The health-promoting properties of various types of water used in health resorts and spas have been confirmed by long-term observations and clinical studies
The radioactive isotope content in 18 mineral water samples used for inhalation and bathing was determined
Comparing the dose received during mineral water treatments with the dose received from radon at home by the inhabitants of northeastern Poland (1.8 mSv), we found that the effective dose obtained during bathing or inhalation therapy is at least an order of magnitude smaller [25]

Summary

Introduction

There has been growing interest in natural treatments and health protection methods.The health-promoting properties of various types of water used in health resorts and spas have been confirmed by long-term observations and clinical studies. Curative water is considered a mineral resource, and its use and protection are regulated by the Polish Geological and Mining Law (2011) [1]. Therapeutic water is currently defined as groundwater that is not chemically or microbiologically contaminated, characterized by natural variability of physical and chemical properties with a content of dissolved solid mineral components not less than 1000 mg dm−3 or one of the following: ferrous ion—no less than 10 mg dm−3 ; fluoride ion—no less than 2 mg dm−3 ; iodide ion—no less than 1 mg dm−3 ; bivalent sulfur—no less than 1 mg dm−3 ; metasilicic acid—no less than 70 mg dm−3 ; radon—no less than 74 Bq dm−3 ; unbound carbon dioxide—no less than 250 mg dm−3. The suitability of mineral water is assessed on the basis of the microelement content, such as sodium, bromine, iodine, boron, manganese, calcium, as well as bicarbonate and chloride anions, not taking into account radioactive elements widely available in the natural environment

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