Naturally occurring radionuclides are found throughout the earth's crust, and they form part of the natural background of radiation to which all humans are exposed. Many human activities-such as mining and milling of ores, extraction of petroleum products, use of groundwater for domestic purposes, and living in houses-alter the natural background of radiation either by moving naturally occurring radionuclides from inaccessible locations to locations where humans are present or by concentrating the radionuclides in the exposure environment. Such alterations of the natural environment can increase, sometimes substantially, radiation exposures of the public. Exposures of the public to naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) that result from human activities that alter the natural environment can be subjected to regulatory control, at least to some degree. The regulation of public exposures to such technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials (TENORM) by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other regulatory and advisory organizations is the subject of this study by the National Research Council's Committee on the Evaluation of EPA Guidelines for Exposures to Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials.

Handbook of Radioactivity Analysis: Radiation Physics and Detectors, Volume One, and Radioanalytical Applications, Volume Two, Fourth Edition, is an authoritative reference on the principles, practical techniques and procedures for the accurate measurement of radioactivity - everything from the very low levels encountered in the environment, to higher levels measured in radioisotope research, clinical laboratories, biological sciences, radionuclide standardization, nuclear medicine, nuclear power, and fuel cycle facilities, and in the implementation of nuclear forensic analysis and nuclear safeguards. It includes sample preparation techniques for all types of matrices found in the environment, including soil, water, air, plant matter and animal tissue, and surface swipes.Users will find a detailed discussion of our current understanding of the atomic nucleus, nuclear stability and decay, nuclear radiation, and the interaction of radiation with matter relating to the best methods for radionuclide detection and measurement. - Spans two volumes, Radiation Physics and Detectors and Radioanalytical Applications - Includes a much-expanded treatment of calculations required in the measurement of radionuclide decay, energy of decay, nuclear reactions, radiation attenuation, nuclear recoil, cosmic radiation, and synchrotron radiation - Includes the latest advances in liquid and solid scintillation analysis, alpha- and gamma spectrometry, mass spectrometric analysis, gas ionization and nuclear track analysis, and neutron detection and measurement - Covers high-sample-throughput microplate techniques and multi-detector assay methods

Origin of Nuclear Science; Nuclei, Isotopes and Isotope Separation; Nuclear Mass and Stability; Unstable Nuclei and Radioactive Decay; Radionuclides in Nature; Absorption of Nuclear Radiation; Radiation Effects on Matter; Detection and Measurement Techniques; Uses of Radioactive Tracers; Cosmic Radiation and Elementary Particles; Nuclear Structure; Energetics of Nuclear Reactions; Particle Accelerators; Mechanics and Models of Nuclear Reactions; Production of Radionuclides; The Transuranium Elements; Thermonuclear Reactions: the Beginning and the Future; Radiation Biology and Radiation Protection; Principles of Nuclear Power; Nuclear Power Reactors; Nuclear Fuel Cycle; Behavior of Radionuclides in the Environment; Appendices; Solvent Extraction Separations; Answers to Exercises; Isotope Chart; Periodic Table of the Elements; Quantities and Units; Fundamental Constants; Energy Conversion Factors; Element and Nuclide Index; Subject Index.