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Radiation Protection

  • Learn About Radiation Units

    Different terms and units are used to measure radioactivity and estimate health effects.

    View the Radiation Units Page

  • Calculate Your Radiation Dose

    Try our Radiation Dose Calculator 

    You can estimate your yearly dose from natural, technological, and medical sources of ionizing radiation. 

    View the Dose Calculator

  • Understand Radiation Health Effects

    Low Dose = Low Risk

    Health effects from radiation exposure depend of the type of radiation, how much of it was absorbed by the body, and how it was received.  

    View the Health Effects Page

  • Radiation Communication Tools

    Pre-scripted messages for emergency response

    Q&As and templates for users of the 2017 Protective Action Guide (PAG) Manual

    View Public Communication Tools

Image of people doing radiation monitoring in a field

EPA sets environmental standards and provides technical expertise to protect human health and the environment from the use of radioactive materials. EPA standards set protective limits on the radioactivity in soil, water and air that comes from human activities. The Agency supports other federal, state and local agencies by developing federal guidance and technical reports on radiation protection, and assists in response to radiological emergencies. 

  • EPA's Role in Radiation Protection
  • RadNet - EPA's Nationwide Radiation Monitoring System
  • Información relacionada en español

Basics

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  • Radiation Sources and Doses
  • Calculate Your Radiation Dose
  • Protecting Yourself from Radiation
  • Radiation Health Effects
  • Radiation Basics
  • Radionuclides

Regulations

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  • Radiation Regulations & Laws
  • Federal Guidance for Radiation Protection
  • Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP)
  • Compliance Software for Radioactive Air Emissions

Technical Resources

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  • Radiation Protection Document Library
  • Tools for Calculating Radiation Dose & Risk
  • ​Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (TENORM)
  • EPA's Protective Action Guides (PAGs)
  • Compliance Software for Radioactive Air Emissions

Related Resources

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  • Frequent Questions: Radiation Protection
  • Radon
  • National Analytical Radiation Environmental Laboratory (NAREL)
  • National Center for Radiation Field Operations (NCRFO)

Emergency Response

EPA maintains teams to respond to emergencies involving radiation and other hazards. 

  • Radiological Emergency Response
  • EPA Emergency Response
  • Emergency Response in My Community
  • EPA's Tribal Support for Radiation Protection

Non-Environmental Radiation

EPA does not regulate or provide oversight for medical radiation, consumer products, or the non-ionizing radiation that is emitted by electrical devices such as cell phones. Other agencies and institutions provide information about these types of radiation:

  • Electronic devices
  • Cell phones
  • Smart meters
  • Power lines
  • Medical use of radiation
  • Nuclear power plants
  • Imported goods

View Radiation Resources Outside of EPA

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RadTown

RadTown is the EPA’s radiation education website. Students can learn about the different types, sources, and uses of radioactive material. Teachers can download classroom materials and fact sheets about various radiation topics that are related to everyday life. 

  • Visit RadTown
  • RadTown Classroom Materials for Teachers
  • RadTown Fact Sheets about Radiation Topics A to Z
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on March 25, 2025
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