Studies for the determination of radionuclide concentrations in foodstuffs, water and air were carried out in Cuba for the estimation of annual committed effective doses to members of the public as a result of environmental radionuclides via ingestion and inhalation. As a result of these studies, it was possible to determine the concentrations of 226Ra, 210Pb, 210Po, 232Th, 90Sr and 137Cs in different food groups that constitute the diet of the Cuban population, as well as the 222Rn concentrations in air. Based on these results and using previously obtained results for doses due to the 40K body content, the annual committed effective doses due to the intake of studied radionuclides were estimated. An average value of 120+/-4 microSv y-1 was obtained for doses due to ingestion of food and water and the obtained value for 222Rn inhalation was 240+/-1 microSv y-1. Using the representative value obtained previously for 40K (150+/-40 microSv y-1) and assuming a dose of 50+/-50 microSv y-1 for the probable contribution of 220Rn by inhalation, a representative value of 560+/-20 microSv was estimated for the average annual committed effective doses due to ingestion and inhalation of radionuclides for the Cuban population. Obtained values are consistent with the expected results, taking into account the characteristics of Cuban exposure scenarios, with low-activity concentration levels in environmental objects and high air exchange rates in dwellings: These results are in the same order of magnitude as results obtained by other authors and the reference values established by the USNCEAR.

Monitoring the quality of instrumentation used in nuclear medicine is mandatory to guarantee the clinical efficacy of medical practice. A national program for the quality control of nuclear medicine instruments was established in Cuba and was certified and approved by the regulatory authorities. The program, which establishes official regulations and audit services, sets up educational activities, distributes technical documentation, and maintains a national phantom bank, constitutes a valuable and useful tool to guarantee the quality of nuclear medicine instrumentation.

Potassium-40 constitutes the main natural source of potassium present in the body, which influences the effective dose received by people. With the aim of assessing the contribution of this component to the doses received by the Cuban population, a study intended to assess the doses was developed. For this purpose, a representative sample of the Cuban population was selected according to age and sex. The measurements were made using the whole-body counter (WBC) of the Center for Radiation Protection and Hygiene (CPHR). For dose estimations, a uniform distribution of potassium for the whole body was assumed. The methodology used was the one recommended by the ICRP. The values of annual effective dose range between 93 and 209 microSv for females and between 123 and 212 microSv for males. The annual average effective dose for members of the public was estimated as 150 +/- 40 microSv, taking into account the experimental data and the specific features of the Cuban population. With the dose values obtained, it was possible to model dose estimates by means of a neural network, which was trained with the results obtained and using as starting data the sex, age, height and corporal weight of people studied. The modelobtained allows consideration of the anatomical features of each person in the estimation of doses.

Internal dosimetry intercomparisons are essential for the verification of applied models and the consistency of results'. To that aim, the First Regional Intercomparison was organised in 2005, and that results led to the Second Regional Intercomparison Exercise in 2013, which was organised in the frame of the RLA 9/066 and coordinated by Autoridad Regulatoria Nuclear of Argentina. Four simulated cases covering intakes of (131)I, (137)Cs and Tritium were proposed. Ninteen centres from thirteen different countries participated in this exercise. This paper analyses the participants' results in this second exercise in order to test their skills and acquired knowledge, particularly in the application of the IDEAS Guidelines. It is important to highlight the increased number of countries that participated in this exercise compared with the first one and, furthermore, the improvement in the overall performance. The impact of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Projects since 2003 has led to a significant enhancement of internal dosimetry capabilities that strengthen the radiation protection of workers.