Radioactivity in the environment
The environment in which we live is subjected to different types of radiation and with different origins.
As for the origins, there is a natural radiation (80% of the total radiation) that does not depend on human activities but on environmental circumstances (see the Atlas of Natural Radioactivity, below) and a radiation caused by human activities (20%). This is constant and a regulated quantity.
Sometime, following accidents, it could be higher but circumscribed in space and time.
EU countries regularly submit their environmental radioactivity monitoring data to the European Commission, so that it can carry out assessments and compare the radiation exposure of the population in different countries.
Based on these data and in collaboration with its Joint Research Center (JRC-ITU), the Commission publishes reports on environmental radioactivity in the EU.
Radioactivity Environmental Monitoring (REM) facilitates the online exchange of information on radioactivity between EU countries and the Commission (via the EURDEP system).
In 2000, the Commission issued Recommendation 2000/473/Euratom, which provides guidance to EU countries on monitoring radioactivity levels in the environment in order to assess the exposure of the population as a whole.
The Commission has the right to verify Member States' arrangements for monitoring radioactivity in the environment and radioactive discharges from nuclear or other installations using radioactive materials; selects the audit objective and makes subsequent findings and recommendations public.
Releases of radioactive effluents
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Nuclear sites (nuclear power plants and reprocessing sites) are allowed to discharge liquid and aerial radioactive effluents into the environment provided that the conditions and restrictions set out in their operating licenses are respected. The radioactivity of the discharges is measured and the results must be reported to the European Commission to assess the exposure of populations and to compare the levels of radioactivity in different EU countries. The Commission issued a Recommendation 2004/2/Euratom, which provides guidance to EU countries on reporting of radioactive nuclide discharges and the Commission's Radioactive Discharge Database (RADD) collects information provided by EU countries. |
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EURDEP: The Radioactivity Environmental Monitoring Network
Copyrights: Joint Research Centre - Radioactivity Environmental Monitoring
This interactive map shows you the level of radioactivity in the environment in the EU countries. European government agencies compile radiation readings as part of environmental monitoring mandates, making the readings available to the public in near-real-time. These data reflect essentially the natural radiation background, if NO radiological events occur.
Verifications of radiation monitoring in EU countries
The European Commission carries out verifications of arrangements for monitoring radioactivity in air, water, soil and foodstuffs in all EU countries. These can be extended to also cover the monitoring of radioactive discharges from nuclear or medical facilities, as well as the provisions in place for radioactivity monitoring in the event of a radiation emergency.
Verification targets are selected according to their radiological significance or public interest - the visits are then announced to the country concerned at least 3 months in advance. However, in the event of a significant radioactive release or other radiation event arousing public interest, the Commission can carry out a verification visit at short notice.
Practical arrangements for the verification visits are described in the Commission Communication 2006/C 155/02
2020
Austria, 30 September - 2 October 2020
Main findings (DE) | Technical report (DE)
Estonia, 23 - 25 September 2020
Main findings | Technical report
2019
Sweden, 4 - 6 December 2019
Main findings | Technical report
Hungary, 2 - 5 April 2019
Main findings | Technical report
Greece, 11 - 13 December 2019
Main findings | Technical report
Croatia, 1 - 3 October 2019
Main findings | Technical report
Spain, 18 - 20 June 2019
Main findings | Technical report | Follow-up report (March 2020) | Follow-up report (December 2020)
2018
Italy, 10-12 December 2018
Main findings | Technical report
Portugal, 3 – 5 December 2018
Main findings | Technical report
Bulgaria, 13 - 15 November 2018
Main findings | Technical report | Follow-up report (July 2019) | Follow-up report (December 2020)
France, 29 - 31 May 2018
Main findings | Technical report | Follow-up report
Spain, 17-19 July 2018
Main findings | Technical report | Follow-up report (April 2019) |
Follow-up report (December 2020)
2017
Romania, 6-8 December 2017
Main findings | Technical report
Germany, 2-4 May 2017
Main findings | Technical report | Follow-up report (EN | DE)
Czech Republic, 2-5 October 2017
Main findings | Technical report | Follow-up report (November 2019)
United Kingdom, 22-24 November 2017
Main findings | Technical report
The Netherlands, 4 – 6 July 2017
Main findings | Technical report
2016
United Kingdom, 24 – 27 October 2016
Main findings | Technical report | Follow-up report
Malta, 15 – 16 March 2016
Main findings | Technical report
France, 13 – 15 June 2016
Main findings | Technical report
Poland, 27-29 June 2016
Main findings | Technical report
Belgium, 14 – 17 November 2016
Main findings | Technical report | Feedback report
Lithuania, 29 November – 1 December 2016
Main findings | Technical report | Follow-up report
Previous findings and reports 2001 - 2015
