The most important factor determining the radiological conditions of the environment is gamma radiation (MAP illustrating gamma radiation). It determines the extent of exposure of the populace to outside radiation. Also important is the presence in the components of the natural environment of radionuclides which cause internal contamination of organisms through the respiratory and digestive tracks. The values of gamma radiation dosage ^* strength in Poland are between 17.7 and 97 nGy/h. The average value determined for Poland is 45.4 nGy/h.

The concentration of radium-226 in the soil on the territory of Poland ranges from 4.8 to 118 Bq/kg ^**. Supposing that in nature there is a natural radioactive balance between radium-226 and uranium-238, it can be assumed that concentrations of both of these radionuclides in the soil are about the same. Concentrations of thorium-228 in Polish soil range from 3.6 to 77 Bq/kg. The average value of concentrations of radium-226 and thorium-228 for Poland measure respectively 26 and 21 Bq/kg.

The concentration of potassium-40 in the soil measures from 111 to 967 Bq/kg with the average concentration value of 413 Bq/kg.

The average concentration value of radium-226, thorium-228 and potassium-40 in the Polsh soil differs slightly from world averages ; they are respectively 26, 26 and 370 Bq/kg.

The concentration values of cesium-137 in Polish soil in 1996 ranged from 0.45 to 52.4 kBq/m². The average concentration value of this radionuclide in Poland amounted to 3.87 kBq/m².

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