Conference paper

Radioactivity in Biosphere and Occupational Exposure in Croatia

Zdenko Franić orcid.org/0000-0001-6315-6043 ; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada
Gordana Marović ; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada
Nevenka Lokobauer ; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada
Ivica Prlić orcid.org/0000-0002-8870-4752 ; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada

Abstract

This paper presents results of long-term investigations of radioactivity in general and occupational environments in the Republic of Croatia. Investigations of environmental radioactivity and occupational exposure monitoring in Croatia have been systematic since the early sixties. Investigations included radioactivity of the air, fallout, soil, river, sea and lake water, tap water, human foodstuffs, and animal feed. External dosimetry monitoring is carried out for workers occupationally exposed to ionising radiation in medicine, and industry. Radioactive contamination with fission radionuclides is associated with deposition of fallout originating from atmospheric explosions of nuclear weapons as well as from regular operation of nuclear facilities. Among hundreds of different radionuclides contained in various types of fallout only a few significantly contribute to the dose, particularly 90Sr and 137Cs. The maximum radioactive contamination with fission radionuclides was recorded in the early sixties, at the time of most intensive atmospheric nuclear tests. The fallout radioactivity has been exponentially decreasing ever since. The nuclear accident at Chornobyl temporarily raised 137Cs radioactivity levels in Croatia, whereas the increase in 90Sr radioactivity was not significant due to its low volatility. After a short-term increase, radioactivity dropped back to the pre-Chornobyl levels. Apart from radioactivity of fission products, investigations involved natural radioactivity and technologically enhanced natural radioactivity. Particular attention has been paid to radon as the most relevant source of natural radiation for humans. In 1998, the average absorbed dose in the air was 0.128±0.004 μGy/h. Consequently, an average Croat received the annual dose of 1.12±0.04 mSv through exposure to background radiation. However, as the overall collective dose includes the dose received by medical and civil use of radiation sources, significant effort has been put on the quality control of radiation sources (systematically implemented since 1985) as an important step for reducing the overall collective dose of Croatian population.

Keywords

Chernobyl; dose; dosimetry; environmental radioactivity; fallout; ionising radiation; radiation protection

Hrčak ID:

65667

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/65667

Publication date:

26.7.2000.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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