Radioactive contamination of our environment causes levels of concern unlike almost any other pollutant. In this course, you will learn the mechanisms by which radiation damages the body and the systems by which we measure and control exposure to radiation. We will then study the sources of naturally occurring radioactivity and radioactive contaminants to the environment and their behaviour in the environment, in order to better understand how people can become exposed. Thus, you should become better equipped to understand and evaluate the risk to human populations of accidents, such as Chernobyl and Fukushima. It includes ten hours of lab work.