This study reports the occupational radiation doses for external exposure received in 1999 by the radiation workers monitored by the Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety Department (DPRSN) in Portugal. Occupational exposures arise from conventional industry, research laboratories, the health or medical sector, and mining. There are no nuclear power plants in the country. There are two dosimetry systems running simultaneously at DPRSN, one based on film dosimetry and the other on thermoluminescence dosimetry (TLD). In 1999, 8400 persons were monitored, 3100 with film and 5300 with TLD and the data presented in this report were obtained by using both technologies. The annual mean effective doses received from external radiation in the different fields of activity and the distribution of the annual effective dose by dose intervals are presented. The collective annual dose by field of activity is estimated and the contribution to the total annual collective dose is determined.
The initiation and development of a programme of surveying gamma radiation in Portugal is reported. Outdoor measurements of gamma radiation levels were carried out all over the country, contributing first estimates towards the establishment of a radiological map. Three specific regions were studied in more detail. One of them is well known as a high background area where uranium mines are in operation and the other two are related to sites selected for the installation of nuclear power plants. Indoor measurements in dwellings were made in two specific areas, Distrito de Viseu and Distrito de Braganca, respectively, of high and medium radiation levels. These values are insufficient to give a complete picture of the population exposure but they give an overview of the average dose rates in the country and an estimate of the average population doses for two particular regions.
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