NATURAL BACKGROUND RADIATION DOSE
ASSESSMENT IN TAIWAN

The natural background radiation dose level in Taiwan was assessed by using the measured data and the newly published dose conversion factors. The average indoor gamma dose rate in Taiwanese houses is 72 nSvh-1, which is high compared with other countries, but the indoor radon level is much lower than most of other countries. The annual effective dose for adults in Taiwan is 1.56 mSv, including 0.25 mSv from cosmic rays, 0.58 mSv from terrestrial external radiation, 0.28 mSv from terrestrial internal radiation, and 0.36 mSv from inhalation of ²²²Rn. The other minor components, such as cosmogenic radionuclides, inhalation of ²²²Rn, are estimated to be at the same level as the world average. The natural radiation dose level is only about 2/3 of the global average quoted in the UNSCEAR 1993 Report.

Average annual effective dose for adults from natural background radiation in Taiwan.