This is interesting
Quote:
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The level of natural background radiation varies depending on location, and in some areas the level is significantly higher than average.[5] Such areas include Ramsar in Iran, Guarapari in Brazil, Kerala in India,[6] the northern Flinders Ranges in Australia[7] and Yangjiang in China.[8] In Ramsar a peak yearly dose of 260 mSv has been reported (compared with 0.06 mSv of a chest radiograph or up to 20 mSv of a CT scan).[9] The highest levels of natural background radiation recorded in the world is from areas around Ramsar, particularly at Talesh-Mahalleh which is a very high background radiation area (VHBRA) having an effective dose equivalent several times in excess of ICRP-recommended radiation dose limits for radiation workers and up to 200 times greater than normal background levels. Most of the radiation in the area is due to dissolved radium-226 in water of hot springs along with smaller amounts of uranium and thorium due to travertine deposits. There are more than nine hot springs in the area with different concentrations of radioisotopes, and these are used as spas by locals and tourists.[10] This high level of radiation does not seem to have caused ill effects on the residents of the area and even possibly has made them slightly more radioresistant, which is puzzling and has been called "radiation paradox".
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The radiation levels these guys recorded are obviously higher than any background radiation anywhere and if you were to stay there for extended periods it would undoubtedly cause significant health problems. That they spend some time at over 100 millisieverts/hr is pretty crazy. I wouldn't want to do that! Still don't believe they would have even had mild symptons of radiation exposure but I wouldn't have done what they did!