5. Conclusion

In conclusion, public exposure can be divided into three approximately equal components: medical exposure (radiodiagnostics), radon exposure and exposure to other sources of natural irradiation such as cosmic rays, telluric irradiation and the incorporation of natural radionuclides such as potassium-40. Although the overall pattern is always the same, the exact proportions vary from country to country or, within a country like France, from département to département. For France, we arrive at an average total dose of 4 mSv, of which 2.4 mSv is due to natural irradiation (figure 6 ). Radon is the main source of natural irradiation, and the resulting dose can be reduced by simple measures to ventilate homes and protect the lower parts of...