title: Radiation doses to the population in The Netherlands, due to external natural sources.
abstract: An estimate has been made of gamma doses to the population in the Netherlands, caused by natural radiation sources encountered in the environment. Data are given, derived from two independent types of measurement: Exposure/dose rate measurements in the living environment (private houses as well as workplaces), using a high pressure ionization chamber and thermoluminescent dosemeters (TLD) respectively and Individual monitoring, using TLD. The study included some 750 individuals, 400 houses and 275 workplaces. The participants were selected and divided into two groups on the basis of their location in areas of relatively high and low terrestrial radiation level respectively. Distinction was made between three categories of individuals with respect to their patterns of life. An estimate was made of the influence of the terrestrial component of the natural background and of some typical building materials on the indoor radiation level. An average indoor exposure rate of 9.5 muR . h-1 and a dose rate of 95 nGy . h-1 for individuals were found, both with a standard deviation of 15-20%.
mesh_terms: D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008834:Microclimate; D009426:Netherlands; D011827:Radiation; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods