Estimation of population exposure to terrestrial gamma rays in Canada

Based on ground gamma ray spectrometry surveys conducted from 2007 to 2010 in populated areas across Canada (i.e. in southern Canada, excluding the northern territories), and with consideration of the exposure outdoors and indoors in various types of buildings as well as exposure to radionuclides in building materials (assuming most building materials are of local origin), the population-weighted annual effective dose from exposure to terrestrial gamma rays was estimated to be 167 ± 43 μSv. Under Canadian-specific average occupancy times, indoor exposures at home contribute 69% of the total annual effective dose, followed by 19% from indoor exposures other than at home, 6.2% from outdoor exposures and 5.8% from exposures inside vehicles. This assessment with measurements in a total of 1057 sites in populated areas across Canada is in general agreement with earlier assessments based on airborne gamma surveys mostly over unpopulated areas of Canada and truck-borne radiometric surveys along paved urban roads in four cities.