Radiation aspects of indoor environments and related radioecological problems: at study of the situation in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands an integrated, three year research programme started in 1982 which should give adequate information on the indoor exposure of the Dutch population to radiation at present and which will clarify the relative influence and importance of all parameters which may modify this exposure in the future. The various aspects studied in cooperation with about 10 laboratories of universities and research organisations are: 1) registration of the present background radiation indoors as well as outdoors, 2) inventory of building materials with respect to radioactivity, 3) complementary radioecological study, 4) indoor exposure parameters, 5) tumour risk factors for low radiation dose levels from external and internal sources, and 6) technical parameters controlling the effective dose equivalent of the residents. A brief description of the different parts and the results achieved since the start of the programme is presented and discussed. (author)