Skip to main content
Log in

Analysis of the contribution of natural sources of radiation to the total dose received by workers

  • Short Communication
  • Published:
Acta Geophysica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

People working with ionising radiation are receiving radiation coming from artificial and natural sources. In Spain, as in many other countries, there is a serious control by the national authorities, Spanish Nuclear Safety Council, of the dose the workers receive from artificial sources. However, until the publication of the European Basic Safety Standards Directive, 96/29/EURATOM, the old criteria referring to the “above natural background” were widely used. This directive was incorporated to the Spanish legislation in July 2001 (BOE 178); in its Title VII it recommends to evaluate the dose coming from natural sources and take it into account for establishing the safety criteria. It is noteworthy to assess the natural doses received at homes and the dose received by workers of radioactive installations subject to regulations, and to compare the two results. The social and economical implications of the results derived can be important in the practical application of the recommendations included in the above-mentioned BOE 178 Directive.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  • EPA (1987), Radon Reference Manual, EPA Publication 520/1-87-20, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

  • European Commission (1999a), Reference levels for workplaces processing materials with enhanced levels of naturally occurring radionuclides, Radiat. Prot. 95.

  • European Commission (1999b), Technical recommendations on measurements of external environmental gamma radiation doses, Radiat. Prot. 106.

  • European Commission (1999c), Establishment of reference levels for regulatory control of workplaces where minerals are processed which contain enhanced levels of naturally-occurring radionuclides, Radiat. Prot. 107.

  • European Union (1990), Council Directive 90/143/EC of 21 February 1990 on the protection of the public against indoor exposure to radon, Official Journal of the European Communities.

  • George, A.C. (1996), State-of-the-art instruments for measuring radon/thoron and their progeny in dwellings — a review, Health Phys. 70,4, 451–463, DOI: 10.1097/00004032-199604000-00001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IAEA (2003), Radiation protection against radon in workplaces other than mines, IAEA Safety Reports Series 33.

  • ICRP (1994), International Commission on Radiological Protection: Protection against radon-222 at home and at work, ICRP Publication 65.

  • Miles, J.C.H., and C.B. Howarth (2000), Memorandum: Validation scheme for laboratories making measurements of radon in dwellings: 2000 revision, National Radiological Protection Board NRPB-M1140, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire.

  • Nazaroff, W.W., and A.V. Nero (1988), Radon and its Decay Products in Indoor Air, John Wiley and Sons Inc., New York, 608 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • NRC (1999), National Research Council Committee on Health Risks of Exposure to Radon: BEIR VI. Health Effects of Exposure to Radon, National Academy Press, Washington DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quindós, L.S., P.L. Fernández, and J. Soto (1991), National survey on indoor radon in Spain, Environ. Int. 17,5, 449–453, DOI: 10.1016/0160-4120(91)90278-X.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suarez, E., and J.A. Fernández (1997), Project MARNA: Natural Gamma Radiation Map, Revista de la Sociedad Nuclear Española, 58–65.

  • UNSCEAR (2000), Sources and effects of ionizing radiation, UNSCEAR 2000 Report, United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, New York.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sainz, C., Fuente, I., Quindós, L. et al. Analysis of the contribution of natural sources of radiation to the total dose received by workers. Acta Geophys. 58, 957–962 (2010). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11600-010-0017-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11600-010-0017-6

Key words

Navigation