Annual effective dose from environmental gamma radiation in Bushehr city

Background: present study was an attempt to measure outdoor and indoor gamma dose rates in bushehr city todetermine corresponding annual effective dose and, to assess effect of active nuclear power plant located inbushehr city on background radiation level of this city.methods: all measurements were performed by g.m (geiger muller) detector (x5c plus) calibrated in iran atomicenergy agency. in order to avoid effects of ground on outdoor and indoor measurements, g.m detector wasplaced one meter higher than ground level. also, during the outdoor measurements, g.m detector was used atleast six meters away from the walls of any building nearby to avoid unwanted effects of the materials used in thebuildings on measurements.results: average gamma dose rates of outdoor and indoor measurements were determined as 51.8 ± 8.8 nsv/hand 60.2 ± 7.2 nsv/h, respectively. annual effective dose due to background gamma radiation was calculated as0.36 msv which was lower than average global level.conclusions: the average annual effective dose from background gamma radiation in bushehr city was less thanglobal level. comparison of the results of present study, as follow up, with previous attempt performed in 2004 todetermine effective dose of environmental gamma radiation in bushehr province revealed that, during eight years,nuclear power plant located in this city has not significantly increased level of annual effective dose of bushehr city.