RE: Ramsar, Iran - A.Karam & Z.Jaworowski

["Karam, Andrew" <Andrew_Karam@URMC.Rochester.edu>]

Dear Mike and others:

The highest readings I noted were on contact with walls or floors.  The
floor measurement of 2.2 mr/hr (22 uGy/hr) was at the spot where the
residents sleep.  General area measurements (i.e. one meter above ground)
were up to about 1 mr/hr in many places in areas I visited and are reported
up to 28 uGy/hr (2.8 mr/hr) elsewhere.  Estimates of average annual dose to
residents from all sources (including radon inhalation and radium ingestion
from local vegetables) is about 71 mSv/yr (7.1 rem/yr).  There are about
2000 permanent, full-time inhabitants in the high-background areas.  The
above information comes from a combination of personal observation and data
supplied by Javad Mortazavi and Masoud Beitollahi, who have studied this
region extensively.

Sincerely,

Andy

Andrew Karam, CHP                (716) 275-1473 (voice)
Radiation Safety Officer            (716) 273-2236 (fax)
University of Rochester             
601 Elmwood Ave. Box HPH     Rochester, NY  14642

Andrew_Karam@URMC.Rochester.edu

It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data.  Insensibly one
begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.
(A Scandal in Bohemia, Arthur Conan Doyle)
====================================
If I understand Andrew Karam's data, the doses mentioned above correspond
to contact doses at some parts of some walls. If so, it does not seem fair
to compare with whole-body doses. 
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