Gamma Spectroscopy
Exposure Attributable to Natural Occuring Radioactive Material
Natural exposures are excluded from Regulation, but these need to be assessed in order to evaluate if there is any significant risk involved, or if intervention is in any case justified to protect people against perceived risk; or to advise on the land management practices.
Exposures to natural sources are normally considered as chronic exposure and, if necessary, are subject to intervention.
Exposure situations requiring remedial action to reduce or avert chronic exposure include:
- Natural exposure, such as exposure emanating from terrestrial, cosmic and internal radiation in homes and workplaces or;
- Exposure to radioactive residue from the past.
The Authority has embarked upon a programme to establish the extent of natural exposure for the purpose of providing information on the need for action or intervention should this need be justified. This programme cover all inhabitable areas, with the first data collection initiated in Windhoek, Otjiwarongo, Tsumeb and some areas in the Uranium Province.
The current focus of data collection is external radiation exposure due to gamma and radon with its progeny.
Gamma Spect
