Believe it or not, behind the marvels and modern miracles of science are American citizens just like you. Many of the advances discovered by scientific researchers would not have been possible without the help of citizen research volunteers–dedicated individuals who gave their time to further the pursuit of knowledge.

Researchers at the Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring & Research Center need your assistance. They are studying soil, air, water, native plants and animals in the region around the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP).

This information will allow scientists to study both naturally occurring and man-made radiation present in the area. Sensitive monitoring equipment provides information about changes in radioactivity near the WIPP site. The baseline data collected prior to the opening of the facility will provide information for studies in the future. As more information is collected over the years, a detailed picture will emerge of environmental radiation in the Carlsbad area.

To complete this broad, comprehensive picture, scientists at the Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring & Research Center also have developed a research project to measure the internal radiation in the area’s residents. Called internal dosimetry, this research process uses sensitive counters to measure the tiny amounts of radioactive material typically found inside the human body.

The citizens of Carlsbad and the surrounding region have a unique opportunity to be part of a long-term research project that will yield information about their environment and will contribute to the growing body of knowledge about radiation and nuclear energy. Lie Down and Be Counted is the name of the outreach effort to get citizens involved in the Internal Dosimetry Services Project at the Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring & Research Center.

By participating, you also will be helping scientists develop better, more sensitive monitoring equipment to protect those who work in the nuclear industries. The project also may lead to improvements in the myriad of medical procedures that use radioactive isotopes and other types of radiation.

There are tiny amounts of radioactive materials inside each of our bodies that are natural or that have accumulated through other means. For example, a fraction of all potassium found in our muscles is naturally radioactive. We also come in contact with radioactive elements in nature and some radioactive elements that are man-made. Sources of radioactive material found in nature include minerals, oil, and gases. The man-made elements are primarily the result of above-ground nuclear tests conducted in the past by many countries world-wide or those administered for medical purposes. Scientists estimate that 87 percent of our exposure to radiation comes from natural sources.

The Internal Dosimetry Services Project is safe. No radiation is given off by the dosimetry instruments. It is similar to the studies conducted for the safety of workers in nuclear weapons facilities, power plants, and in other industries that employ radioactive materials.