Living in high natural background radiation areas in Ramsar, Iran. Is it dangerous for health?

Abstract

The main goal of the present study is to examine the health effects of high natural background radiation among the residents of Ramsar, one of the inhabited areas with highest natural background radiation. This report summarizes the data obtained from 402 residents of high background radiation area and 374 residents from an adjacent normal radiation area. Overall data showed no significant differences in the frequencies of any mental and physical disabilities as well as malignancies between residents of normal and high background radiation areas. Results also showed no significant increase in the frequency of death, abortion and mental depression among inhabitants in high background radiation area. We plan to extend our work, using more clinical and paraclinical tests on these populations in the next phase of the study.