People are exposed to several types of ionising radiation from both natural and man-made sources. A set of con cepts and dosimetric quantities, along with approxima tions or models, may be used to evaluate doses from these radiation sources whatever they are and whatever their form or the energy and the intensity of their radia tion. This scheme is considered to provide reliable re sults for the purposes of protection against radiation. However, some limitations are also illustrated which account for the various and complex mechanisms which intervene in the real situation of exposure to radiation.
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