Gamma Radiation Measurement due to Natural Radioactivity in Hot Water Spring of Behbahan

Introduction: Many people use hot water springs to treat some diseases, such as rheumatism, arthritis, and skin diseases, but they are unaware of the presence of natural radioactive substances that may be found in hot water springs. An effective way to understand the radiation risk of these elements are measuring the dose rate of radiation. In this study, for the first time, gamma dose rate has been measured at the hot water spring of the Garab village in Behbahan city. Materials and Methods: To measure of gamma dose rate in the hot water spring and around it, 6 points were considered and the dose rate in these areas was measured using the RAS-110 Survey meter in four seasons of the year. The dosimeters were also placed at two heights of 5 cm and 1 m, and the dose rate was read and recorded for 20 minutes in any point. Results: The measured absorbed dose rates in air ranged from 49 to 331 nGy/h, in hot water spring areas. The maximum high radiation dose rate was found nearby the principle hot water source (point 1) was measured at 331 nGy/h. The annual effective dose for this place was estimated to be 0.4 mSv. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the annual effective dose of natural gamma in the hot water spring is higher than the global average and there was a significant difference between the dose rates in different seasons. Also, the effect of height on the amount of radiation is negligible