Radioactive water, dangerous faith or demontrated benefit?

Abstract

All populations are exposed throughout their lives to ionizing radiations normally of natural origin (from nature itself) or of artificial origin (mainly due to medical activities), however, in general there is great fear of the effects of radiation on human organisms. Radioactive water (with dissolved radon gas) has originated long debates throughout the years and they still exist. Even though many studies support hormesis and its beneficial effects, detractors express their doubts because of the ALARA principle and studies registering higher incidence of lung cancer in people who have received high radon doses during prolonged periods. Since the limit of permissible radon radiation has not been established unanimously and considering that exposition to radon radiation is frequent and inevitable and that it has a very short half life and that it is inert, several spas are offering and promoting its beneficial effects. This doesn’t mean that there are still many curists that are very skeptic.