OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT AT A THERAPEUTIC RADON SPA FACILITY IN HUNGARY

Abstract In order to estimate occupational exposure of workers in a therapeutic radon spa facility, radon concentration in the workplace air was investigated at Markhot Ferenc Hospital, Eger, Hungary. The investigated balneotherapeutic facility and its natural hot spa water are used for treatments and rehabilitations of rheumatic patients. Radon concentration, radon decay products at a bathhouse, treatment rooms and a consultation room were continuously measured in August and September 2018. In the present study, different levels of radon concentration among the observation sites and its clear temporal variations were found, though radon concentrations in the investigated sites were below 300 Bq m−3. Regarding such radon fluctuation and low equilibrium factor level (0.1), the annual effective doses of workers are estimated to be around 0.5 mSv year−1.