Background: The effect of natural background
radiation on health is still controversial. However, it is
clear that it depends on the dose received by the
population. The estimation of external natural background
gamma rays received by the population of
Caspian coastal provinces in the northern part of Iran
was the main goal of this study. Materials and
Methods: Gamma rays was measured using
calibrated radiation survey meter in 51 urban and
rural health centers randomly to estimate the
exposure to population (Total population = 6888118
persons) in residential areas of Gilan, Mazandaran
and Golestan (Total area 59240 Km2) as Caspian
coastal provinces, North of Iran. Results: Results
showed that the average dose rate in the areas under
study was about 60.37±14.88 nSv/h or 0.53 mSv/yr
(Range 30 to 90 nSv/h or 0.26 to 0.79 mSv/yr). The
data from Ramsar was excluded from the estimation
because of its very high natural background radiation
(Max. 240 mSv/yr). No significant difference was
found among the doses of the provinces (P=0.237).
Conclusion: The external natural background gamma
ray dose to the population of Caspian coastal
provinces, North of Iran, was found to be almost
equal to the average value in the world (0.5 mSv/yr).
Iran. J. Radiat. Res., 2011 9(3): 183-186
Amiri M, Abdi R, Shabestani Monfared A. Estimation of external natural background gamma ray doses to the population of Caspian coastal provinces in North of Iran. Int J Radiat Res 2011; 9 (3) :183-186 URL: http://ijrr.com/article-1-805-en.html