Dosimetric implications of the exposure to the natural sources of irradation

Abstract

Man has been continuously exposed to natural radiation since his appearance on earth and, until less than a century ago, was exposed to natural radiation only. Even now, despite the widening use of radiation producing devices, the widespread radioactive contamination from nuclear weapon test and the increasing applications of nuclear energy and radio-isotopes, natural sources are the main contributors to the radiation exposure of most of the human population and are likely to remain so in the foreseeable future.