4Meaning of natural background exposure

4 Meaning of natural background exposure

(1)  In these regulations, natural background exposure, of a person to ionising radiation, means the exposure of the person to a source of ionising radiation that occurs naturally in the environment.

(2)  For the purposes of subregulation (1) , radiation that occurs naturally in the environment includes –

(a) radiation from potassium-40 in the body; and

(b) cosmic radiation at the surface of the earth; and

(c) unmodified concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides in most raw materials.

(3)  In these regulations, natural background exposure does not include exposure to radiation that –

(a) is directly attributable to the carrying out of a radiation practice; or

(b) may have a harmful effect on persons working in an industry, or business, where those persons may be exposed to that ionising radiation.