[en] This IAEA international conference on Radiation and Society was the first major international meeting devoted to the comprehension of radiation risk, public attitude towards radiation risk and hazards encountered by the general public in contaminated areas. Volume two of the proceedings mainly deals with assessment of radiation exposure levels, radiation health effects, impact of radiation on the environment, perception of and managing radiation risk. Refs, figs, tabs

[en] Excess radiation induced cancer mortality among residents of the Russian Federation resulting from the consequences of the Chernobyl accident or from residence in areas contaminated after the accident was predicted in compliance with ICRP recommendations. For emergency workers the excess lifetime radiation induced cancer deaths are expected to amount to 650 per 10,000 people (or 3.3% of natural cancer mortality). For residents of radionuclide contaminated areas this number is predicted to be 270 deaths per 100,000 people (or 1.4% of natural cancer mortality). As for leukaemia mortality, the number is 86 per 100,000 people (or 21% of the natural leukaemia mortality) for emergency workers and 42 per 100,000 people (or 11% of the natural mortality) for residents. 6 refs, 4 figs

[en] Over 30,000 children and adolescents from four rayons of Brayansk oblast and from three rayons of Kaluga oblast have been examined. The cohort is being followed up dynamically. An age dependence of the radiation doses to the thyroid was clearly detected. The largest doses were found to be in children under 3 years old. Three per cent of children received doses above 200 cGy. 5 refs, 1 fig., 1 tab

[en] Electrical power requirements will necessitate doubling the present generating capacity in Croatia in the future. As a result, environmental discharges associated with the coal power industry will considerably increase. One of the main sources of uranium and thorium that have been detected and are not connected with the nuclear industry has been found to be energy production using fossil fuel. By coal burning (in coal fired plants at about 17 deg. C) the activity originating from uranium and thorium is redistributed from underground (where the impact on humanity is nil) and liberated into the environment. Most of the radioactive substances are concentrated in the ash and slag, which are heavy and drop to the bottom of a furnace. Lighter fly ash, however, is carried up the chimney and into the atmosphere and irradiates people and contaminates food crops. Also, ²²²Rn escapes into these atmosphere during incineration, while the non-gaseous members of the uranium decay series remain in the ash and slag. 8 refs

[en] Short communication

[en] Short communication. 1 fig

[en] The perceptions of a considerable part of the population of Belarus concerning the possibility of construction of a NPP have formed through the prism of this catastrophe and are often based on incorrect representation of the degree of radiation risk from the Chernobyl accident as well as from operation of a future NPP. In this connection, a specific necessity is radioecological education of the population and management bodies of Belarus. Radioecological literacy of all sectors of society is a guarantee of adequate perception of real radiation risk, which will permit effective solution of the problems of rehabilitation of radioactively contaminated areas and provide answers to the questions related to development of nuclear power engineering. Thus, correct understanding by the public of radioecological risk is not just a guarantee of support for the idea of development of nuclear power engineering, but first is a basis for adequate understanding of the consequences of catastrophe and formation of corresponding models for behavior in conditions of radioactive contamination of the environment

[en] 'Public opinion', 'public expectation' and 'public perception' are three phrases used in representing views of the public. As an example of the impact and hence importance of public perception, recall that Sweden is terminating its nuclear power programme. Being a democracy, it will, in the end, do what the majority of its citizens believe should be done. Such beliefs are influenced by public perception

[en] This study examines two issues: the benefit of dose reduction measures excluding collective dose reduction and the distribution of individual dose among workers. Examples are taken from actual cases of dose reduction measures during the current reactor dismantling work at the Japan power demonstration reactor (JPDR) at the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI) since 1986. 6 refs, 1 fig

[en] The paper discusses the lack of legal instruments and financial inputs in Hungary regarding radiation protection due to natural radiation sources such as high level of Radon concentration in homes. It calls for higher awareness both among decision makers and the general public of the hazards associated with natural radioactivity