Current exposure of croatian population to ionising radiation

In theory, limits of radioactive contamination of food should be based on risk analysis, but in practice this procedure is compromised by economic reasons. This paper looks into the EU limits for radiocaesium in foodstuffs after the Chernobyl accident and gives a few examples of effective dose assessment of 137Cs. Croatia has harmonised radiation protection regulations with international and EU standards. This article presents the effective doses in the adult population of Croatia assessed at the Radiation Protection Unit of the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health. The assessment included ingestion, inhalation, and external exposure, and distinguished between radionuclide intake through food, water, and injection in medical procedures. Our results show low 137Cs activity concentrations, which are within limits, even though the radiation standards are very stringent. Therefore, their contribution to the effective dose is very small (<0.1 mSv). (authors)