2. WORKSHOP EUROPEAN ALARA NETWORK FOR NORM November 24 th -26 th, Dresden (Germany) S.Risica, F.Bochicchio, C.Nuccetelli Department of Technology and Health Istituto Superiore di Sanit Rome Thermal spas: occupational exposure to natural radioactivity and related legislation Badgastein, Austria S. Andrea, Italy Riolo, Italy TREATMENTS INTRODUCTION l Are spas radon-workplaces or NORM industries? l What type of exposure for workers? inhalation, whole-body irradiation, hand irradiation, no ingestion l Which are the radionuclides involved? radon and its decay products, thoron and its decay products (??), radium 226 and 228, potassium 40 SURVEYS AND DATA l UNSCEAR: no data l Few references in papers in IAEA TECDOC l No EC Radiation Protection monograph l No detailed national survey in literature (??) Ikaria, Greece ???, Slovenia THE EUROPEAN SCENARIO Some Member States do not have spas Other Member States have spas for l cave therapy l hydro therapy pulmonary ventilation, inhalation, bathing, drinking, etc. l mud therapy Jchymov spa, Czech Republic Marienbad, Czech Republic SURVEYS IN SOME EUROPEAN SPAS countrylocation n. of spas period Rn concentration (Bq/m 3 ) effective dose (mSv/y) AustriaBadgastein1before 5500* Croatia Franceseveralbefore 2003up to up to several tenths HungaryBudapest 34.8 Slovenia Podetrtek11984< before 2001 Generally 200/400 + Veneto * ( ) Emilia Romagna 2.2 Marche 0.21 * equilibrium equivalent concentration of radon + after remedial actions estimated from Rn concentration in water SURVEYS IN SOME ITALIAN SPAS (cont.) locationperiod n. of spas C Rn in water (Bq/l) C Ra in water (Bq/kg) Ischia 3478 well 13 2590 pool Alto Adige pool 1990 2070 pool Veneto 26.4 pool 480 well 2.2 6.6 pool 450 well well 210 1208 mud Emilia Romagna 37 RECOMMENDATIONS AND REGULATIONS ICRP STATEMENT Como, Italy September 7-17, 1987 In recent years, the ICRP has been made aware of the widespread practice of deliberately exposing people to radon in spas or sanatoria With respect to persons exposed while at work in such facilities, the entire system of dose limitation would apply. This would require, in addition to justification and optimisation, the application of dose limits, and all other relevant recommendations given for workers in ICRP Publications 26 and 32. Radon in spas ICRP RECOMMENDATIONS It would be advisable for regulatory or supervisory agencies to ensure that a systematic survey is conducted in places of work in radon-prone areas.... Underground workplaces and other workplaces such as spas, should be considered separately. Publication 65, 1993; paragraph 85 Publication 103, 2008 No reference is explicitly made to spas DIRECTIVE 96/29/EURATOM Title VII 2. Each Member State shall ensure the identification, by means of surveys or by any other appropriate means, of work activities which may be of concern. These include in particular: (a) work activities where workers and, where appropriate, members of the public are exposed to thoron or radon daughters or gamma radiation or any other exposure in workplaces such as spas, caves, mines, underground workplaces and above ground workplaces in identified areas. TRANSPOSITION IN MEMBER STATES countryspas? ad hoc provisions? action/investigation level or limit in terms of Rn concentration (Bq m -3 ) 2000 h y -1 effective dose (mSv y -1 ) Belgiumyesno Czech Republic*yesno400 (investigation)6 (guidance) Denmarkno--- Franceyes 400 AL1 AL Germanyyesno1000 (investigation) 6 (notification) 20 (limit) Greeceyesno400 AL--- Irelandno--- Italyyes ---1 * except for Jchymov spa TRANSPOSITION IN MEMBER STATES (cont.) countryspas? ad hoc provisions? action/investigation level or limit in terms of radon concentration (Bq/m -3 ) effective dose (mSv y -1 )? Lithuaniayesno 200- 400- 800AL --- Sloveniayesno1000*/3200**AL 6*/20** (limit) Spainyesno provision--- Swedenfewno400 AL The Netherlandsno--- UKyesno400 AL--- new workplaces used 80% time *category B workers new workplaces used < 80% time, **category A workers existing workplaces used > 80% time existing workplaces used < 80% time Boario, Italy Fiuggi, Italy SPAS IN THE ITALIAN LEGISLATION l presence of radon was considered a direct consequence of the work activity l the Action Level for workers was set l in terms of effective dose l equal to that set for NORM industry, i.e. 1 mSv y -1 l more restrictive than for radon workplaces (500 Bq m -3 3 mSv y -1 ) l reason: ICRP statement 1984 l difference from practices: corrective measures must be adopted before worker classification In the transposition of Title VII of Directive 96/29 Dose > 80% ACTION LEVEL? adoption of corrective measures new measurement after 3 years or after significant variations of the work activity OK OBLIGATIONS OF UNDERTAKINGS IN SPAS NO YES NO application of the radiation protection control system for practices new measurement each year DOSE < ACTION LEVEL? YES NO YES OPEN QUESTIONS AND GAPS OF KNOWLEDGE l are thermal spas a limited/serious health problem in the European Union? l how many Member States are involved? l do we know which are the highly radioactive spas? l are spas just radon workplaces? l who is the personnel exposed? (medical/maintenance/ cleaning/administrative) l few data on radium in water/radioactive residues l few data on possible external exposure l do we need detailed national surveys? OPEN QUESTIONS AND GAPS OF KNOWLEDGE (cont.) l are the Rn measurement methods used suitable for the scope? l are available dose conversion coefficients suitable? l can spas be of help to identify radon-prone areas? l are there exposures other than Rn for the public? (e.g. ingestion of Ra-rich water, exposure from residues, use of thermal baths and pools as non-medical exposures) Badgastein, Austria Saturnia, Italy should we start considering population exposure in spas? Rabbi, Italy Monsummano, Italy Thank you for your attention Thanks to all colleagues, particularly the art.31 Group of experts, who helped me collect information and data Bagno Vignoni, Italy