Natural radiation exposure research in the member states of the European community: state-of-the-art and perspectives

In radiological protection, it is considered that any exposure to radiation, whatever its origin, can be harmful to exposed persons or their descendants. Attention should therefore be paid to natural radiation, as this accounts for nearly ninety percent of the annual effective dose equivalent to the population. Over the past few years an impressive number of national surveys of the radon indoor concentration (accounting for about one half of the exposure to natural sources) was carried out in the Member States of the European Community. Studies were also devoted to the evaluation of the influence of parameters and modalities for assessing the indoor exposure to radon, namely (i) ingress of radon from the ground, (ii) physico-chemical properties of the radon daughter aerosols, (iii) parameters influencing indoor exposure and (iv) technological countermeasures to be applied for existing dwellings or as building rules for new constructions. In the ongoing (1985-1989) Radiation Protection Programme, emphasis is put on the following subjects: (i) physico-chemical properties of radon daughter aerosols, (ii) evaluation of risks due to inhalation of radon daughters, (iii) exhalation from building materials and soils, (iv) countermeasures and related studies, (v) impact of technologically enhanced natural radiation, (vi) natural radionuclides in water and (vii) epidemiological investigations. An overview of the policies and regulatory activities for controlling exposure to radon daughters in dwelling in the Member States is given. 10 references, 1 table