Contemporary Engineering Sciences, Vol. 6, 2013, no. 3, 127-134 HIKARI Ltd, www.m-hikari.com Radiation Doses due to Natural Radioactivity in Al Hammah Hot Springs, Jordan 1 Amin Al-Okour, 2* Abdul-Wali Ajlouni, 1 Abdullah Ajlouni and 1 Saleh Shakhatreh 1 Department of Applied sciences, Husun College Al Balqa Applied University, Husun, Jordan 2 Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS) College of Forensic Sciences-Department of Forensic Chemistry Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia *Corresponding author, e-mail: awajlouni@hotmail.com Copyright 2013 Amin Al-Okour et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Abstract Gamma Radiation measurements conducted in Al Hammah hot springs, Jordan are introduced in this paper. These data represent new result of high-radiation dose equivalents found in part of the country measured for the first time. The radiation doses, attributable to terrestrial gamma radiation, were measured using a portable Geiger-Muller counter and an NaI(Tl) detector. The measured absorbed dose rates in air ranged from 70 to 580 ngyh -1, in hot water spring areas. The maximum high radiation dose was nearby the principal hot water source of the cooling pool. The gamma doses outside the spa region were 30 to 70 ngyh -1, which is higher than average registered radiation doses rates in Jordan. Keywords: Al Hammah, Jordan, Hot springs, Natural radiation, NaI(Tl)detector, absorbed dose rates.
128 Amin Al-Okour et al 1. INTRODUCTION A group of natural therapeutic resources are available in Jordan, major of them include mineral and hot springs and the salt water and the volcanic mud of the Dead Sea. Most of these springs and the Dead Sea are located in the Jordan Rift valley, which is part of the Syrian-African Rift Valley that formed in the third geological age. These springs (Figure 1) are still used in healing numerous sicknesses such as arthritic, rheumatic, respiratory, neurological systems and skin diseases mainly Psoriasis. Major curative sites in Jordan include Ma in, Al Hammah, North-Shuneh, Afra, Al Barbaitah, Wadi Bin Hammad, and the Dead Sea, the world largest natural spa with distinctive therapeutic properties that are rarely available elsewhere (Harahsheh, 2002). Hot springs, which are used as spas by visitors from inside and outside Jordan, are the main source of natural radionuclides as well as radiation doses for the public in this part of the country (AL-amairyeen 2010). The radiation hormesis model explains why residents of radon spa areas (in Japan, Germany, and central Europe) and people who live in homes that have high radon levels also have a decreased incidence of cancer. But perhaps the most impressive study that shows just how good low dose radiation can be for you is one just published in the (Chen. et al. 2004). Yet at hot springs and thermal spas where radon typically is found in the air or water along with carbon dioxide, sulphur gases and trace elements of other minerals, health-seekers sing its praises (Chen et al. 2004). 1.2. Al Hammah Spa Al Hammah spa is the first curative site in Jordan that was developed in 1964, followed by Ma.in in 1981 and Ashounah in 1982, the Dead Sea in 1989, Afra 1996 and finally Al Barbaitah 2002, Wadi Bin Hammad will be developed in 2003. Al Hammah springs lie in the northern part of the Jordan Rift Valley on the left basin of Yarmouk River and on cross borders between Jordan, Syria. The site is some 30 km from the city of Irbid and about 120 km from Amman. The site hosts 20 hot and sulphur springs, which have varied temperatures up to 63 o C and dissolved minerals of 650-885 mg/l. These springs contain a high concentration of hydrogen sulphide and radon222. Almaqla is the biggest spring in the site, which has more concentration of hydrogen sulphide and radon gases. The springs covered by recent basalt rocks, and the water discharges out from the limestone layers, which go back to the Upper Cretaceous Age. (Harahsheh, 2002). Due to public concern of radiation induced health hazard, the natural radioactivity in the environment explored thoroughly in the last years. Natural radioactive mineral
Radiation doses due to natural radioactivity 129 deposits found in suitable geological environment. The greatest contribution to humankind's exposure comes from natural background radiation, cosmic natural background radiation and cosmic radiation, and the worldwide average annual effect dose is 2.4 msvh (UNSCEAR, 2000). The hot springs, which used by the inhabitants and visitors as spas, are the main sources of natural radiation for the distribution of radionuclides such as 238 U and 232 Th and their decay products in rock and soil. Many high radiation areas have been identified in several area of the world for example Rasmer in Iran, Yangjiang in China, kerala in coast of India, the Nile Delta in Egypt, and Afra spa in Jordan (Ajlouni et al.,2009; 2010). This study introduces radiation doses in Al hammah hot spring and furthers supplement studies to measure the radiation dose rates in Jordan. It introduces additional information about radioactivity doses in tourism places in Jordan (Ajlouni et al., 2009; 2010). This study goes, also, with the other studies which were done at different areas in Jordan (Ahmad et al., 1997; Al-Jundi, 2002; Al-Jundi et al., 2003; Al Hamarneh et al., 2003; Ajlouni et al., 2009; 2010, AL-amairyeen 2010 Al-Okour, et al., 2011). 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this paper, the rate of external gamma radiation level in different zones in Al hammah Spa is measured by using of a portable radiation monitor (RADIAGEM 2000) to measure gamma dose with a Geiger-Muller counter and using another gamma probe with an NaI(T1) external detector connected to RADIAGEM 2000, to measure the dose rate. The later technique is used for medium sensitivity with a doserate range from 10 ngy h -1 to 200 Gy h -1 (Ajlouni et al., 2009, 2010). Continuous measurements done, using the two detectors in the whole area with water pools and rocks. Table 1 represents the recording of measurements of each point. RESULTS Table 1 represents the gamma dose rates at 1m above the ground in Al Hammah spa. The doses in air at a height of about 1 m above the ground ranged from 70 to 580 ngyh-1 in hot spring area. The maximum high radiation dose found nearby the hot water entrance and channel in the nearby Chalet. The gamma doses outside the spa
130 Amin Al-Okour et al region were 30 to 70 ngyh -1, (Table 1). The external terrestrial gamma radiation absorbed dose was due to concentration of radionuclides of the 238 U and 232 Th series. For comparison with other worldwide registered high radiation areas, Table 2 represents the highest registered gamma absorbed dose rates in the world (Ajlouni et al., 2009, 2010) including the results registered in this study. Table 1. Registered gamma absorbed dose rates in selected locations in Al hammah spa. Location Dose rate in air (nsv/h) Entrance 90 Main Spring 75-85 Most-Heated Pool (Almaqla) 115 Way (inside) 90 Way (outside) 120-175 Out-Going Fluids 180 Chalet In-Going Fluids 500-580 Chalet Channel 200-500 Chalet Pool 100 Chalet Other Areas 100-200 out-side areas 30-70
Radiation doses due to natural radioactivity 131 Table 2. The highest registered gamma absorbed dose rates in the world (Ajlouni et al., 2009, 2010). Country Area Characteristics of area Absorbed dose rate in air(ngyh -1 ) Iran Ramsar Spring waters 70-17000 India Kerala Monazite sand, 200-400 coastal areas India Orissa Monazite sand, 200-400 coastal areas France Southwest Uranium minerals 10-1000 Brazil Guarapari Monazite sand, 90-1800 coastal areas Taiwan Peitou Spring water 400 China Yangjiang Monazite particles 370 average Pacific Niue island Volcanic soil 1100 maximum Jordan Afra spa Hot springs 10-1800 Jordan Afra spa Rocks 4 x 10 6 Jordan Al Hammah spa Hot springs 70 to 580 DISCUSSION Natural Radioactive isotopes emit different types of radiations with different energies in its decay chain. Since the most important contribution radiation is the gamma, we concentrated on the absorbed gamma dose rate in air. The external dose rate of the high radiation zone measured to be 580 ngy/h. This was approximately more than ten to twelve times greater than the dose rates obtained outside the spa zone. The possible sources of these doses are the natural Uranium and Thorium series, which are highly concentrated in hot springs areas. The highest registered dose rates are in Chalet In- Going Fluids points because these areas represent the accumulation of radioactivity coming from thermal water source. Jordanian national average dose rates ranges from 24 to 160 ngyh -1, while the world wide annual effected dose is approximately 70 μsv (UNSCEAR, 2000; 2006). Further investigation should be done using gamma spectroscopy techniques based on NaI(Tl) and HPGe detectors. It is important to utilize these investigations to estimate the doses received by the visitors and workers in Al Hammah spa, the nearby Chalet and the farms using the outgoing water.
132 Amin Al-Okour et al At the same time, it is very important to investigate the proper health benefits gained by visitors and residents in Al Hammah spa, and Al Mkhaibeh village according to the radiation hormesis model. CONCLUSION It is concluded that radiation doses in North-Shuneh region surveyed was found to be from 70 to 580 ngyh -1 in hot spring area and the maximum dose was measured in hot water channel in the nearby chalet. The gamma doses outside the spa region were 30 to 70 ngyh -1, which is very low compared with the dose rates in the spa and chalet. More research on the effect of high natural radiation on human, animals and plants should be done. Ongoing monitoring of health status of visitors and worker in the spa and Al Mkhaibeh village residents should also be done. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The author is grateful to Al-Balqa Applied University for providing the research grant used in carrying out this study under its science-supporting program. REFERENCES Ajlouni A-W., Abdelsalam M., Abu-Haija O., Joudeh B., (2009). New findings: a very high natural radiation area in Afra hot springs, Jordan. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, pp. 1 4. DOI:10.1093/rpd/ncp028. Ajlouni A-W., Abdelsalam M., Abu-Haija O., Almasa efah Y (2010). Radiation doses due to natural radioactivity in Afra hot spring. Int. J. Low Radia., 7(1). DOI: 10.1504/IJLR.2010.032770 AL-Amairyeen H. (2010). Radiation doses due to natural radioactivity in Wadi Bin Hammad, Al-Karak, Jordan. International Journal of the Physical Sciences Vol. 5(9), pp. 1486-1488.Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/ijps. ISSN 1992-1950.
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134 Amin Al-Okour et al Figure 1. Map of the researched areas for the radiation dose investigations in hot springs in Jordan. 1: Al Hammah; 2: North-Shuneh ; 3: The Dead Sea; 4: Ma'in; 5: Al Barbaitah; 6: Afra. (Source: http://www.tourism.jo/, Harahsheh, 2002) Received: February 23, 2013