Ionising radiation exposure of the UK Population

The UK population is exposed to ionising radiation from a number of sources, both natural and man-made. This is the latest review of radiation doses in the UK from all sources. It mainly covers the period 1992 to 1997, with a particular focus on 1997. The average annual dose is 2.6 mSv, in a population of 59 million. Half of this average is from indoor radon exxposure, and individual doses from radon can reach a few hundred millisieverts. Medical uses of radiation account for the largest man-made contribution to the overall total. Fallout from atomic weapons tests is almost below the limits of detection. Average annual doses from discharges and disposals of radioactive wastes have shown further small decreases and continue to be extremely low. While no member of the most exposed groups received more than 1 mSv from these discharges and disposals, most received much less than 0.1 mSv and the highest annual dose resulted mainly from natural radionuclide discharges. In the previous review, a significant downward trend in occupational exposures was reported. This trend has continued through the period covered by this review - for example, the average annual dose in the nuclear industry almost halved during the period of this review. Radon exposure at work continues to make the largest contribution to all occupational exposure.