Analysis of the UNSCEAR 2000 Report on Sources of Artificial Radiation
Editorial revision 2026
The “United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR)” regularly publishes reports on exposure to natural and artificial radiation. These worldwide reports are intended for specialists and radiation protection organisations. They are a bible on the subject, but their level and the amount of information make them difficult to access.
The following article is an analysis of the UNSCEAR report published in 2000. It makes the essential points of this report accessible. It provides interesting details on sources of natural and artificial exposure.
The article in English has been divided into two parts. This page provides access to the second part on artificial sources of exposure of human origin, with access to the part on natural sources being provided from the corresponding pages.
Its author, Mr Hans Vanmarcke, works at the SCK-CEN laboratory in MOL, Belgium. He is a specialist in natural radioactivity and a member of the Belgian delegation to UNSCEAR. As head of the radiation protection research department, he works on radiobiology, radioecology and radiological assessments.
The Nuclear Energy Research Centre (SCK-CEN) was created in 1952 with the aim of providing Belgian academic and industrial circles with access to the development of nuclear energy throughout the world. Since 1991, its statutory mission has given priority to: the study of social problems; nuclear safety and radiation protection; medical and industrial applications of radiation; the end of the nuclear fuel cycle.
SCK-CEN employs approximately 600 staff members, one third of whom are university graduates.
Mr Hans Vanmarcke is also one of the authors of an excellent, clear and comprehensive work, translated into French: Ionizing Radiation: Effects of Low Doses, H. Vanmarcke, L. Baugnet-Mahieu, J. P. Culot, P. Govaerts, L. Holmstock.