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

No epidemiological studies have examined the health effects of daily bathing in radon hot springs. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the associations between radon hot spring bathing and health conditions. The target population was 5,250 adults >_ 20 years old in the town of Misasa, Japan. We collected information about the participants' bathing habits and alleviation of a variety of disease symptoms, and their self-rated health (SRH). Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. In both the adjusted and unadjusted models of hypertension, significant associations between the > 1 x /week hot spring bathing and the alleviation of hypertension symptoms were observed compared to the group whose hot spring bathing was < 1 x /week: adjusted model, OR 5.40 (95%CI: 1.98-14.74); unadjusted model, 3.67 (1.508.99) and for gastroenteritis: adjusted model, 9.18 (1.15-72.96); unadjusted model, 7.62 (1.59-36.49). Compared to the no-bathing group, higher SRH was significantly associated with both bathing < 1 x /week: unadjusted model, 2.27 (1.53-3.37) and > 1 x/week: adjusted model, 1.91 (1.15-3.19). These findings suggest that bathing in radon hot springs is associated with higher SRH and the alleviation of hypertension and gastroenteritis.