RADON IN NIŠKA BANJA SPA WATERS

Abstract

The most numerous investigations of radon concentration in waters in Serbia were conducted in Niška Banja spa. Niška Banja spa is considered an area with high natural radioactivity. The appearance of radon in water is due to the leaching of soil in which 226Ra nuclei decompose. The passage of groundwater through radium-rich rocks results in the collection of radium decay products, including radon 222Rn. This paper presents the results of several studies which measured radon concentrations in the waters of Niška Banja spa. There are three thermal springs in Niška Banja spa: „Glavno vrelo“, „Suva banja” and „Školska česma”. The radon concentration in the waters of Niška Banja spa was found to be generally about 0.4-570·103 Bq/m3. According to the available data in the literature, the highest measured radon concentration in the waters of Niška Banja spa is 1463.4·103 Bq/m3.
Keywords: radon, Niška Banja spa, thermal water.