Distribution of indoor radon concentrations between selected Hungarian thermal baths

Recently, it has been proved that more than half of the exposure to natural background radiation is from radon isotopes and their progenies [1]. The inhalation of radon and its decay products can result in biological changes within the lungs, thus increasing the risk of lung cancer. According to a report of the World Health Organization (WHO), after smoking, radon is the second most frequently reported reason for developing lung cancer [2]. In December 2013, the Council of the European Union prepared the new European Basic Safety Standards (EU BSS). These standards recommended that the annual average radon concentration should not be higher than 300 Bq/m3 in dwellings or workplaces [3]. Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency, in accordance with the IAEA Safety Standard Series No. GSR Part 3, recommends that radon concentrations should not exceed 300 and 1000 Bq/m3 for the public and workers, respectively [4]. By taking into consideration the EU BSS, the European member countries (e.g. Hungary) are going to introduce a national reference level of 300 Bq/m3 (average annual activity concentration) for indoor radon concentration [3]. Distribution of indoor radon concentrations between selected Hungarian thermal baths Amin Shahrokhi, Erika Nagy, Anita Csordás, János Somlai, Tibor Kovács