Measurement of radionuclides in the environment - present status and trends

The measurement of natural and artificial radionuclides in the environment has a long history, which is briefly described. The Chernobyl event has created completely different conditions. Methods and instruments for gross beta and gross gamma measurements were developed. Furthermore, extended automatic networks were set up, recently including nuclide-specific particulate monitoring stations. Both in sample measurement and automatic monitoring networks, the trend clearly goes to increased automated and computer-aided data processing, combined with extensive quality control programs in order to promote reliability and supra-national comparability of results. (orig./HP)