I found a report of radon concentrations at of 10,952 Bq/m³. Usually mitigation is warranted in home with levels over 100 Bq/m³. On an annual basis, that's a dose of about 275 mSv/y. That's about 150 times background radiation or 7.5 chest x-rays a day. Not a big deal for a short visit: 3 hours is about a chest x-ray, breathing the air there. Or about the same as the radiation dose you'd get on a return flight between Canada and Australia (yes, air crew get more radiation yearly than most nuclear workers). There is uranium in the water, but at such low concentrations of 0.0704 ppb it's not worth calculating (seawater has 3.3 ppb). I would be concerned about radiation from radium, but it's not even present in the analysis I found. I'll link the analysis in a reply comment (which will probably go to spam). I am not a nuclear health physicist. But on a breezy day, I'd spend time and go ahead and soak. I've now added Paralana to my list of places to visit in Australia. Thanks for letting me know about it!
@@4bnewb969 Cosmic radiation. Particles moving extremely fast, photons (gamma rays, x-rays) and neutrons mostly. The atmosphere absorbs most of it before it hits the Earth's surface. High elevations have higher background, like Colorado or Mongolia or Bolivia. And planes fly higher than that.
"Arkaroola - Mount Painter in the Northern Flinders Ranges" by Reg C Sprigg, - has some useful information in Paralana Hot Springs. The whole place has some fascinating Geology.
Also the various hot springs in Ramsar. But Dan was talking about the springs being directly radioactively heated, not heated by the hot temperature in the crust/mantle (which is hot from radioactive decay in the Earths core/mantle).
I've had the water tested as Radium Hot Springs, and the levels of dissolved radon in the pools is considered acceptable in drinking water. There is dissolved radium as well, but I don't have measurements for that. The sump room does require SCBA gear though, as the radon levels are high due to poor ventilation.
Holy Crap! As a groundwater geologist I have never heard of this; that's pretty awesome. Man, there must be a lot of uranium to be heating that water. And just a small correction, that's magma in the earth, it's lava when it's at the surface. But I'll give you a pass, it's a common mistake. 😉 And Radium Hot Springs in BC is really nice!
very cool. in the USA, we have rocks that release radiation. Its called granite and its nearly ubiquitous. Most people don't even realize it or just ignore it. Even our nation's capital building (built out of granite) releases significant levels of radiation.
The water probably is not that radioactive. Uranium ores in nature are quite rare and not very concentrated in general, so for the water to pick up substantial amounts would be rare. Add onto that that Uranian radiates mostly neutron radiation, which isn't able to travel very far through dense materials like rock or water, and the water itself probably isn't that deadly. Radon gas on the other hand is crazy.
it's so funny as this spring is probably the most complained about and most disappointing in oz . So small and uninspiring, and considering you talk about radiation it clearly is not bad there because if it was more signs and an exclusion zone would be made. Thankfully the area around it is amazing and the drive out to it.
The fact that there are no specifics on the radioactivity of the water tells me that the concerns are as overblown as those for asbestos! Speaking of over blown things, how about the worlds latest and greatest Ponzi scheme, crypto currency. We all know how Ponzi schemes end for the tail end Charlies don't we?
Well I be darned... learned something new today about Australia: Huge bugs and now radioactive hot spring... check. 🤣
I found a report of radon concentrations at of 10,952 Bq/m³. Usually mitigation is warranted in home with levels over 100 Bq/m³. On an annual basis, that's a dose of about 275 mSv/y. That's about 150 times background radiation or 7.5 chest x-rays a day. Not a big deal for a short visit: 3 hours is about a chest x-ray, breathing the air there. Or about the same as the radiation dose you'd get on a return flight between Canada and Australia (yes, air crew get more radiation yearly than most nuclear workers). There is uranium in the water, but at such low concentrations of 0.0704 ppb it's not worth calculating (seawater has 3.3 ppb). I would be concerned about radiation from radium, but it's not even present in the analysis I found. I'll link the analysis in a reply comment (which will probably go to spam).
I am not a nuclear health physicist. But on a breezy day, I'd spend time and go ahead and soak. I've now added Paralana to my list of places to visit in Australia. Thanks for letting me know about it!
Link to the study with the mineral content analysis: citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.485.766&rep=rep1&type=pdf
I would appreciate the link to that analysis also.
I’m a bit naive on these topics; where does the radiation come from on an aircraft flight ?
Cheers
@@4bnewb969 Outerspace.
@@4bnewb969 Cosmic radiation. Particles moving extremely fast, photons (gamma rays, x-rays) and neutrons mostly. The atmosphere absorbs most of it before it hits the Earth's surface. High elevations have higher background, like Colorado or Mongolia or Bolivia. And planes fly higher than that.
A visit to Arkaroola is worthwhile as you are in that area if its not too late.
I liked the landscape more then the spring. Beautiful area.
I love how you tell the story and give hood bits of history and information. Sets you apart from just “jeeping” or adventure channels.
"Arkaroola - Mount Painter in the Northern Flinders Ranges" by Reg C Sprigg, - has some useful information in Paralana Hot Springs. The whole place has some fascinating Geology.
Spriggs books are great, what a life he lived
Thanks for all the content while on the road. We miss this while you were in africa. Thanks for taking the vlog live this time.
That was super cool! Thanks Dan!
Certainly not the only radioactive thermal springs in the world. Check "Termas Radium" in Portugal. Keep safe!
Also the various hot springs in Ramsar. But Dan was talking about the springs being directly radioactively heated, not heated by the hot temperature in the crust/mantle (which is hot from radioactive decay in the Earths core/mantle).
Now thats cool! Great video!
Took my broken microwave here and it started working again, thanks Dan!
Can't wait for the Oodnadatta tk video. Heard its a hoot ;)
Haha, I hope you're having a great time Matt, it was fun to hangout!
That was fun! Happy trails.
Come to Rotorua and Taupo NZ and see some decent hot springs. There is one called Kerosene Creek. It smells like that.
Next months video - Mutant Dan...There are as you properly know hot springs on the edge of the Simpson Desert at Dalhousie Springs campground
Absolutely, I'll get there somehow even with all this rain!
The goggles do nothing!
It was impossible not to thrown out Radioactiveman quotes all day!
I've had the water tested as Radium Hot Springs, and the levels of dissolved radon in the pools is considered acceptable in drinking water. There is dissolved radium as well, but I don't have measurements for that. The sump room does require SCBA gear though, as the radon levels are high due to poor ventilation.
I swear you were in Sea Patrol. You were the smuggler from East Timor, yes?
Holy Crap! As a groundwater geologist I have never heard of this; that's pretty awesome. Man, there must be a lot of uranium to be heating that water. And just a small correction, that's magma in the earth, it's lava when it's at the surface. But I'll give you a pass, it's a common mistake. 😉 And Radium Hot Springs in BC is really nice!
Where does the water end up?
Water doesn’t have to go 10km down to get real hot as on average temperature increases by about 25 celsius per km you go down in the crust
very cool. in the USA, we have rocks that release radiation. Its called granite and its nearly ubiquitous. Most people don't even realize it or just ignore it. Even our nation's capital building (built out of granite) releases significant levels of radiation.
The water probably is not that radioactive. Uranium ores in nature are quite rare and not very concentrated in general, so for the water to pick up substantial amounts would be rare. Add onto that that Uranian radiates mostly neutron radiation, which isn't able to travel very far through dense materials like rock or water, and the water itself probably isn't that deadly. Radon gas on the other hand is crazy.
☢️ just dont get in.
Cheers to bolth of you. 🍷&🍺
Was there any sign of animals around the spring?
none at all. I really wonder if they know to steer clear.
@@TheRoadChoseMe they can be smart about that type of stuff
What's a good overland vehicle in NA that's not a Jeep?
it's so funny as this spring is probably the most complained about and most disappointing in oz . So small and uninspiring, and considering you talk about radiation it clearly is not bad there because if it was more signs and an exclusion zone would be made.
Thankfully the area around it is amazing and the drive out to it.
😱
Its tiny though
☢️😎👍
The fact that there are no specifics on the radioactivity of the water tells me that the concerns are as overblown as those for asbestos! Speaking of over blown things, how about the worlds latest and greatest Ponzi scheme, crypto currency. We all know how Ponzi schemes end for the tail end Charlies don't we?
Thanks for going there so we don't have to. Is this where Australians get rid of murder victims?