Ramsar, Iran

["Karam, Andrew" <Andrew_Karam@URMC.Rochester.edu>]

I just returned from a conference in Tehran in which, on the day following
the meeting, we visited the very high background radiation area in Ramsar.
It's safe to say that, had I not been present, I would have doubted some of
the radiation levels we saw.  About a dozen people from the conference were
present, in addition to several representatives from the Iranian equivalent
of the NRC.

The area itself is underlain by igneous rocks that are apparently rich in
NORM.  Hot springs abound, and the hot water dissolves Ra-226 from the
rocks, depositing it in travertine (a calcium carbonate mineral) at and near
the surface.  Some of the local houses are constructed from this stone, too,
exposing them to higher concentrations of radon as well as elevated
radiation levels.

We took survey meters with us and measured general area levels outside that
ranged from "normal" background to about 1 mr/hr (this is from memory - I
haven't unpacked my notes yet).  The radiation levels were very
heterogeneous, and it's not really possible to give a "typical" or "average"
level.  Inside one house we visited, some sections of the wall read up to
about 14 mr/hr on contact with the wall, the general area readings were
about 1 mr/hr, and the spot on the floor where the couple slept (this was in
their bedroom) was about 2.2 mr/hr.  The couple living in this house are in
their 60s and appear to be in good health.  Radon levels in this room at the
time we were present were about 35 pCi/l (over 1000 bq/m^3) and we were told
that, with windows closed, they are typically several times higher than
this.  I took photos of the displays on both of the dose rate instruments
used as well as the radon monitor and we were told the instruments were
properly calibrated and were working correctly.

As I said, I'm still digging out my notes from the visit, so this account is
necessarily incomplete.  I am planning on writing a short piece for the HPS
Newsletter as I finish unpacking.

Incidentally, I was quite impressed by the conference.  I felt it to be
well-balanced in terms of basic versus applied science, the presentations
were informative, and our hosts were both helpful and generous.  While I
understand that certain political and religious questions are virtually
unavoidable, I am not qualified to discuss them and I hope you will all
agree that Radsafe is not the proper forum for doing so.  Let it suffice to
say that, in the opinion of *everyone* with whom I spoke, including many
visitors, the conference was considered a complete success.  In my opinion,
the conference organizers are to be commended for their efforts.

Andy

Andrew Karam, CHP                (716) 275-1473 (voice)
Radiation Safety Officer            (716) 273-2236 (fax)
University of Rochester             
601 Elmwood Ave. Box HPH     Rochester, NY  14642

Andrew_Karam@URMC.Rochester.edu

It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data.  Insensibly one
begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.
(A Scandal in Bohemia, Arthur Conan Doyle)



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