Studies on the natural background radiation in Italy.

Reports study of the exposure rate due to the gamma-ray natural background in some representative areas of Italy using a portable high-pressure ionization chamber. In some areas spectrometric measurements were made to distinguish between contributions to the total from cosmic rays and from natural radioactive series. The measurement areas were chosen to be representative of the main geological formations. Finds the range of measurements is rather wide, in close correlation with geological features of the soil, the values of exposure rate ranging from a few mu.r./hr on the alluvia to 50-60 mu.r./hr on volcanic rocks.< Reports preliminary study of the gamma-ray background in Rome as an introduction to a future investigation of the contribution from building materials