北投石是唯一以台灣地名命名之礦物，產於地熱谷溫泉入流之北投溪下游150－400公尺處，該礦物因具有來自鐳同位素之放射性而聞名，而該地區也是台灣背景輻射較高之區域，具有研究高背景輻射來源、人員劑量及生物效應之價值，但由於國內核科學教育不普及，民眾對於核能、輻射等知識的認知往往道聽塗說，為釐清地熱谷區域居民或旅客可能對該地之輻射水平安全之疑慮，並提升民眾對於天然放射性物質、當地背景輻射及輻射安全之認識，以促進我國輻安管理之提升與民眾參與度，本計畫擬藉由量測北投石產地之環境輻射水平及劑量，進而與世界各高輻射背景區域比較，並由他國高背景輻射水平地區之流行病學等調查，說明於當地之背景輻射對民眾的安全性，並藉由前述之研究成果製作宣導（教學）教材，透過電子媒體、宣傳活動以及大學通識課程向民眾宣導天然放射性物質、背景輻射及輻射安全等相關知識。其中，環境輻射水平監測及劑量量測包括下列各項：土壤/底泥試樣之加馬能譜分析；溫泉/河水中之氚、鐳同位素（Ra-226／Ra-228）及總貝他活度；植物試樣之加馬能譜分析；空氣中之氡氣濃度；環境背景輻射之有效劑量率。 Hokutolite is the only one mineral named after a toponym in Taiwan, which originates in the downstream (about 150-400 meters away from Geothermal Valley Hotspring) of Peitou Creek and is famous for its radioactivity from radium isotopes. The background radiation in the area of Geothermal Valley is relatively higher than elsewhere in Taiwan and is valuable for the research of natural radiation sources as well as human doses and biological effects in the environment of high background radiation. Ascribed to non-universalization of nuclear science education in Taiwan, the public usually misunderstand nuclear energy and radiation. To clarify possible misgivings of local inhabitants and tourists for the safety of the background radiation around Geothermal Valley and promote the public's knowledge toward naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM), background radiation as well as radiation safety, we aim to measure environmental radioactivity and dose in this area so that to enhance the management of radiation safety and public participation in Taiwan. In addition, the results from this study will further be used to compare with those in high background radiation areas in the world and interpreted for the safety of background radiation around Geothermal Valley. Moreover, the results will be edited to be advertising/teaching materials and elucidated via electronic media, promotional activity and general education course to promote the public's knowledge toward naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM), background radiation as well as radiation safety. The measurement of environmental radioactivity and doses includes: gamma-ray spectra analysis for soil/sediment samples, activity of deuterium, radium isotopes (Ra-226/Ra-228) and total beta nuclides, gamma-ray spectra analysis for plant samples, radon concentration in air and effective dose rate of background radiation.
