Protection from radioactivity in the enviroment, in dwelling and in workplaces

Occupational and environmental exposures to radioactivity are often related to the activities of plants, such as nuclear power plants, which can expose workers and the population to radiation due to the presence of by-products and waste, of naturally radioactive materials (NORM), and generally contain isotopes of radium and thorium.

Examples of activities using NORM include: metal extraction and processing, phosphate production, coal extraction and energy generation from coal combustion, oil and gas extraction, industries involving titanium oxide and rare earths, and the industries where zirconium and ceramics are worked.

The Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS, the Italian National Institute of Health) provides technical-scientific support in the development of guidelines and methodological guidelines for the prevention of the risks of exposure to ionizing radiation in relation to this type of exposure (occupational and environmental) to radioactivity.