Local Background Natural Ionising Radiation - A Reference Location At The Research Polygon Of The Institute For Medical Research And Occupational Health, Zagreb

Validated and reliable measurement data are the foundation of any scientific report, especially in research fields that describe environmental stressors. In order to yield a trustworthy interpretation of environmental 'events' monitored and explored by measuring ionising radiation, it is necessary to obtain accurate data on the local background radiation in the environment where research is conducted. Values of the measured ambient dose rate equivalent H*(10), an operational quantity for environmental monitoring used to characterise local natural background radiation, greatly depend on the geographic placement, geological composition, and urbanisation of the very location of the measurement. IMROH has designed and installed a measuring station within the research polygon Sumbar with the aim to establish it as a reference measuring station for local background ionising radiation for all future research regarding ionising radiation and its naturally, as well as accidentally, caused oscillations in the environment. Discrepancy in the H*(10) values between the two measuring locations is fully justified considering the fact that the Institute is located in an urban surrounding burdened by nearly every possible pollutant as well as buildings and is characterised by a specific city microclimate, while Sumbar is an ecologically untouched area, hunting grounds, and natural habitat mainly unaffected by modern life. Furthermore, knowing the H*(10) values at a remote and 'unpolluted' location in real time (interactive communication with the measuring station) also enables a significantly faster regulatory reaction in cases of potential radiological accidents. (author).