RESUMEN
In Morocco, thermal waters have been used for decades for the treatment of various diseases. To explore the exposure pathway of (238)U, (232)Th and (222)Rn to the skin of bathers from the immersion in thermal waters, these radionuclides were measured inside waters collected from different Moroccan thermal springs, by means of CR-39 and LR-115 type II solid-state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs), and corresponding annual committed effective doses to skin were determined. Accordingly, to assess radiation dose due to radon short-lived decay products from the inhalation of air by individuals, concentrations of these radionuclides were measured in indoor air of two thermal stations by evaluating mean critical angles of etching of the CR-39 and LR-115 II SSNTDs. Committed effective doses due to the short-lived radon decay products (218)Po and (214)Po by bathers and working personnel inside the thermal stations studied were determined.
Asunto(s)
Contaminantes Radiactivos del Aire/análisis , Contaminación del Aire Interior/análisis , Radón/análisis , Torio/análisis , Uranio/análisis , Contaminantes Radiactivos del Agua/análisis , Adolescente , Adulto , Balneología , Preescolar , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Aguas Minerales , Marruecos , Dosis de Radiación , Monitoreo de RadiaciónRESUMEN
(238)U, (232)Th, (222)Rn and (220)Rn concentrations were measured inside various Moroccan black soap samples widely used by the Moroccan population in traditional baths (Hammans) by using both CR-39 and LR-115 type II solid state nuclear track detectors. The measured (238)U, (232)Th, (222)Rn and (220)Rn concentrations, respectively, ranged from (3.7 ± 0.2) to (11.7 ± 0.7) mBq kg(-1), (0.11 ± 0.01) to (0.32 ± 0.02) mBq kg(-1), (3.8 ± 0.2) to (11.6 ± 0.6) Bq kg(-1) and (0.10 ± 0.01) to (0.31 ± 0.02) Bq kg(-1) for the Moroccan black soap samples studied. The influence of pollution on the concentrations of these radionuclides inside the considered Moroccan black soap was investigated. A new dosimetric model for evaluating annual committed effective doses due to (238)U, (232)Th and (222)Rn to the skin of different age groups of the Moroccan populations from the application of the black soap samples studied was developed. The maximum total committed effective dose to the skin due to (238)U, (232)Th and (222)Rn from the application of unpolluted black soap samples 20 min per week by the Moroccan populations was found to be equal to (0.88 ± 0.05) µ Sv y(-1) cm(-2).