Radiation Aspects of Indoor Environments and Related Radioecological Problems: A Study of the Situation in the Netherlands

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Abstract
In the Netherlands there is an integrated research programme in progress 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. This three year programme, funded by the Netherlands government and entitled 'Radiation Aspects of Indoor Environment and related Radioecological Problems', was started in the beginning of 1982. The various aspects studied in cooperation with about 10 laboratories of universities and research organisations are: (1) Registration of the present background radiation: (a) determination of the external radiation level of the population resulting from external sources, and (b) determination of the radon concentration in and around homes. (2) Inventory of building materials with respect to radioactivity: (a) selection of materials and soils representative for Dutch buildings, and (b) activity measurements of samples from selected materials. (3) Radioecological study: (a) transport of radionuclides in the biosphere via direct emission of fly ash or leaching from fly ash deposits, and (b) dispersion of radionuclides from drainage of waste products of the phosphate industry in surface water. (4) Radiation protection parameters: (a) exhalation of radon from building materials and soil in relation to physical characteristics of these materials, (b) influence of residential behaviour on ventilation rate, and (c) aerosol characteristcs in relation to lung dose models. (5) Evaluation of tumour risk factors for low radiation dose levels from external and internal sources. (6) Relative importance of the various materials and technical parameters for the effective dose equivalent of the residents. In the paper, the motivation and coherence among the different subprojects and the state of the programme will be presented.

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