The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) established by the General Assembly in 1955 assesses the levels and effects of exposure to ionizing radiation on human health and the environment.
This is the second of two volumes of scientific annexes that presents the supporting scientific deliberations for the UNSCEAR 2024 Report to the United Nations General Assembly.
Annex B “Evaluation of public exposure to ionizing radiation” provides the most comprehensive global assessment to date of radiation doses received by the general public from natural and human‑made sources.
Drawing on data collected through the UNSCEAR Global Survey on Public Exposure and an extensive review of published scientific literature covering the period 2007 to 2022, the report synthesizes the assessment of natural radiation sources, including radon and thoron and their progeny, terrestrial radionuclides present in soil and building materials, cosmic radiation, and exposures associated with NORM industries. It also encompasses human-made sources including radioactive discharges from facilities in the nuclear power production, nuclear related fuel cycle, production and radioactive waste management, non-power uses of radionuclides, military and civilian legacy sites, releases associated with past radiological accidents and exposures related to the transport of radioactive materials.
This annex reconfirms that natural sources of ionizing radiation remain by far the most significant contributors to public exposure worldwide., Exposures of the public to human-made radiation sources are generally lower than exposure from natural sources, except in rare cases such as major radiological accidents.
Sales No. E.25.IX.2,
ISBN: 978-92-1-003331-2,
e-ISBN: 978-92-1-106874-0
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