High Levels of Natural Radiation and Radon Areas: Radiation Dose and Health Effects

Ever more attention has been focused on naturally occurring radiation, thanks to the shift of public concern and scientific interest from high to low-level radiation in recent years. There are many places in the world that are known to have high levels of terrestrial background gamma radiation as well as highly concentrated radon and their decay products in the air, soil and drinking water. Various scientific investigations have been conducted in those areas to collect information on radiation doses and their health effects, contributing greatly to advancing our knowledge. In recent years, technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material (TENORM) has also attracted attention. The 6th International Conference on High Levels of Natural Radiation and Radon Areas was held in Osaka, Japan from September 6-10, 2004, for the purpose of exchanging information and experience regarding investigations in this field. These proceedings contain more than 100 papers presented at the meeting, which aimed to discuss the following major topics:: 1) risk assessment, radiation protection, environmental transfer pathways and ecological impacts related to natural radiation and TENORM; 2) dosimetry of natural-radiation, including radon, thoron, and cosmic rays, and its technological aspects, e.g., individual dosimetry and retrospective measurements; and 3) in vitro and in vivo biological studies of low-level radiation, including molecular mechanisms.