Measurements of radioactivity in the environment for radiation protection purposes

Measurements of radioactivity in the environment, according to Article 35 of the Euratom Treaty, are routinely carried out by regulatory bodies and operators in charge. These activities are performed both locally and nationally, in order to assess effective doses to the population. In this context, therefore, it is necessary not only to determine the component due to external irradiation, but also to evaluate the deposit and accumulation of radioactivity in the environment that can reach the public via inhalation or ingestion. The contribution presents a brief description of the aspects regarding programs of monitoring and evaluation of the radioactivity in the environment, in particular the environmental matrices to be monitored, the analyses to be carried out, the related reporting levels as well as the features concerning the influence of the climate on the variations of dose rate values. Finally, a focus on some radiometric measurements performed over the last forty years in the environmental monitoring activities carried out in the ENEA Casaccia Research Center (Rome), in which two nuclear research facilities are currently operating, is presented.