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INTEGRATED NATURAL RADIATION EXPOSURE STUDIES IN STABLE YUGOSLAV RURAL COMMUNITIES

Z.S. Zunic 1 , J.P. McLaughlin 2 , C. Walsh 2 , A. Birovljev 3 , S.E. Simopoulos 4 , B. Jakupi 5 ,
V. Gordanic 6 , M. Demajo 1 , F. Trotti 7 , R. Falk 8 , H. Vanmarcke 9 , J. Paridaens 9 and K. Fujimoto 10
1 Radiation Medicine Department, Institute of Nuclear Sciences “Vinca”,
P.O. Box 522, 11001 Belgrade, Yugoslavia. 2 Physics Department, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. 3 Environmental Protection Department, Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority,
P.O. Box 55, N-1345, Osteras, Norway. 4 Nuclear Engineering Section, Mechanical Engineering Department,
National Technical University of Athens, 15 780 Athens, Greece. 5 Physics Department, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics,
Vidovdanska bb, 38 00 Pristina, Yugoslavia. 6 Geoinsitute, Rovinjska 12, 11000 Belgrade, Yugoslavia. 7 Venetian Reference Laboratory for Environmental Radioactivity,
CRR-ARPAV, Verona CRR-Policlinico B. Roma, Via Velle Menegone 32-34 Verona, Italy. 8 SSI, Stockholm, Sweden. 9 SCK-CEN, Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium. 10 Human Radiation Environment Division, National Institute of Radiological Sciences,
4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan.

The results of field investigations of natural radiation exposures of the general populations in two
stable rural communities in Yugoslavia are presented. The principal emphasis was on exposures to
contemporary indoor radon but measurements of external penetrating radiation absorbed dose rates in
air were carried out in the majority of cases. In addition in a limited number of dwellings,
measurements of thoron gas concentrations were made. By means of making a series of sequential
three month radon measurements, both seasonal variations and annual average radon levels in the
dwellings were determined. Using passive alpha track detectors, individual radon and thoron indoor
concentrations as high as 9591 Bq/m 3 and 709 Bq/m 3 respectively were detected while absorbed dose
rates in air in the dwellings as high as 430 nGy/hr were recorded.
On the basis of these different types of measurements, assessments could be made of the integrated
natural radiation exposures being received by the populations. In addition to contemporary radon
measurements, retrospective radon exposure assessments in most of the dwellings were made on the
basis of measurements of 210 Po concentrations in both surface (glass) traps and in volume (porous
materials) traps.
A description is given of the sampling strategies and protocols used in this field work. It is shown that
at least one stable rural community receiving high natural radiation exposures, has been clearly
identified and plans for future health investigations of the population there are outlined.