The method of radiation risk assessment based on physico-geographical regionalisation: a case study of Carpathians, Poland

Radiological assessment of the environment in expansive territories poses significant challenges due to the complexity of spatial and environmental variables. The aim of this study was to use and present the advantages of a physico-geographical regionalisation methodology to improve the precision and effectiveness of radiological assessments in large areas. The study area was a region of the Polish Carpathian mountains with a territory of 19,600 km². By integrating geographic information systems (GIS) and radiological data, this research analysed a similarity of environmental attributes (soil type, lithology, mineralogy) and absorbed dose rate (ADR) level from the terrestrial origin for populations. Consistency in terms of the nature and origin of the relief and lithological diversity was a key aspect that distinguished the radiological characteristics. Therefore, consistency was observed at the macroregional level according to physiographic mapping. The study demonstrates the utility of macroregionalisation in capturing spatial ADR heterogeneity and provides a new strategy in radiological monitoring.