The radiation background of any part of the world is made up of natural radionuclide’s radiation located in soil and cosmic radiation. The lowest background - at the level of the seas and oceans, and the highest - in the soil where there are deposits of uranium and thorium ores. The difference can be tenfold. Also, the background radiation increases with altitude.

The city of Almaty is located in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau at an altitude of 700 m. and more above sea level. In the soil of the area are granitic rocks with a high content of natural radionuclides, including radium-226. In this connection, the radiation background in the city of Almaty is 0.11 - 0.12 microsieverts per hour (mSv / h) in the northern part of the city and 0,13-0,14 mSv / h - in the south. In the district of Medeu and Shymbulak background is around 0,18-0,23 mSv  / h. But residents and guests of the southern capital should not worry about it, since this is the natural background areas, and our body is adapted to this background.

Radiological Laboratory for many years makes the measurement of gamma background and radon in the city, in the residential and public buildings.

As for radon – this is a radioactive gas, radium-226 decay product, 8 times heavier than air, which accumulates in confined spaces. Large concentrations of radon are found in basements and first floors of homes. Permissible content of equivalent equilibrium volume activity of radon in homes and public buildings, according to current hygienic standards, is 200 Becquerel per cubic meter. This standard can be exceeded in areas which are not ventilated for a long time. The main struggle with a high content of radon is a forced ventilation and airing of premises.

Radiological Laboratory also conducts radiation monitoring on radiology facilities of the city, using the radioactive sources, X-ray machines in medicine, industrial enterprises, universities, and others. The radiation situation at these facilities complies with the requirements of the sanitary rules.

In addition, we conduct studies of the environment samples (food, water, building materials, etc.) for radioactivity.