The Exposure of the Greek Population to Natural Gamma Radiation of Terrestrial Origin

An assessment of the external radiological impact in areas of Greece with elevated natural radioactivity

“…The external dose rate to a population due to the naturally occurring radionuclides in the soil and sediment was calculated according to the following formula (Probonas and Kritidis, 1993): where H ext (mSv y À1 ) is the exposure dose for terrestrial gamma-radiation and A(i) is the activity concentration (Bq kg À1 ) of the radionuclide i determined by gamma-spectroscopy in the soil and sediment samples analysed.…”

Radiological impact in an area of elevated natural radioactivity background: the case of the island of Ikaria–Aegean Sea, Greece

“…The existence of high concentrations of natural radionuclides in the abiotic environment of the island of Ikaria resulted in some cases to overdoses in relation to the typical background (2500 ASv year À1 ). In comparison to the wide Greek territory (100-1000 ASv year À1 ) [2] and the reported literature, the dose equivalent rates due to terrestrial g-radiation determined in the island of Ikaria (200-3310 ASv year À1 ) were found to range in the upper limit of the value spectrum. More specific results and discussions are given below.…”

“…Elevated levels of natural radionuclides were detected in some of the measured samples [1] in comparison to the respective background levels in Greece [2]. In terms of pathway exposure to humans, external and internal dose rates calculations were carried out [1].…”

Distribution of low-level natural radioactivity in a populated marine region of the easternMediterranean Sea

“…However, 228 Ra has been found to increase in areas of elevated natural radioactivity of the eastern Mediterranean (e.g. 100-1100 Bq m 23 (25,52,53) ). It has been previously mentioned that Ra isotopes can be used to trace processes related to SGDs.…”