Radiation all around us

Possible developments on radiation protection of the public within the European Community are evaluated. The greatest source of radiation exposure to the public arises from radon and its daughters. This exposure can be controlled and reduced by the application of special building techniques and remedial measures of the man made sources of exposure, medical radiation contributes the biggest share. Encouragement will be given to the more widespread use of techniques which can give the required information with a reduced dose. The other contributors to artificial sources of exposure are all relatively small. The dose to the public, from nuclear power and nuclear reprocessing, have been shown to be small and to be decreasing steadily. It is important, however, that continuing scientific studies be made on discharges of radioactivity to the environment and the resulting doses, both to ensure that desirable trends continue and to provide warning and information on incidents and accidents. Similar considerations should apply to other sources, such as fallout from weapons tests or the use of radioactivity in consumer goods