Association between Radon Hot Spring Bathing and Health Conditions: A Cross-Sectional Study in Misasa, Japan

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Epidemiology
• Therapeutic Modalities

Background:

• Limited epidemiological data exists on the health impacts of regular radon hot spring bathing.
• Radon hot springs are utilized for their perceived therapeutic benefits, but scientific validation is scarce.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between radon hot spring bathing frequency and various health conditions.
• To assess the relationship between radon hot spring exposure and self-rated health (SRH) in adults.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 5,250 adults (≥20 years) in Misasa, Japan.
• Data collection included bathing habits, symptom alleviation (hypertension, gastroenteritis), and SRH.
• Statistical analysis used unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Main Results:

• Frequent hot spring bathing (>1×/week) was significantly associated with alleviated hypertension symptoms (adjusted OR 5.40) and gastroenteritis (adjusted OR 9.18) compared to less frequent bathing (<1×/week).
• Higher SRH was significantly associated with both infrequent (<1×/week) and frequent (>1×/week) bathing compared to non-bathers.
• Adjusted models showed significant positive associations for SRH with bathing <1×/week (OR 2.27) and >1×/week (OR 1.91).

Conclusions:

• Radon hot spring bathing demonstrates a positive association with improved self-rated health.
• Regular immersion in radon hot springs may contribute to the alleviation of hypertension and gastroenteritis symptoms.
• Further epidemiological research is warranted to confirm these health benefits.