Radioactive background radiation measurement in Mureş county

Abstract From the beginning, there has always been radiation in the Universe. Most people are unaware of it, even though it is around us all the time, and can have many negative effects on our bodies. In the long term, it can lead to the development of various diseases. The natural background radiation includes cosmic radiation, plus radiation from radioactive elements present in the soil, atmosphere, and living organisms. A significant, measurable fraction of this is gamma radiation. Artificial radioactive isotopes can be used in a variety of applications, such as space research, sterilization, and medical diagnostic imaging. Our objective is to measure the dose equivalent rate from the gamma fraction of background radiation in Mureş county, in open and closed spaces, and in frequently visited areas. The measurements were performed with a Gamma Scout dosimeter. The measured average dose equivalent rates are 0.104 µSv/h in Târgu Mureş, 0.111 µSv/h in Reghin, 0.112 µSv/h in Sovata, 0.091 µSv/h in Tarnaveni, 0.095 µSv/h in Ludus and 0.067 µSv/h in the Upper-Mureş Nature Park. Based on the measurements, the calculated mean annual dose is 0.884 mSv/year. According to the data based on the measurements, the dose equivalent rates measured in Mureş county do not pose a risk to our health.