Letter to the editor

Abstract

In the recently published paper, no direct claims were made since only relatively indirect global ambient radioactivity levels are available.However, available data from reputable sources clearly shows a global annual average population radiation exposure that peaked in 1962 and 1963 shortly after a spike in atomic bomb testing that pre-empted the Partial Test Ban Treaty of 1963. Ambient global radiation levels fell progressively thereafter. Korblein’s statement that WHO data only goes as far back as 1970 is incorrect. For most countries, data is available as far back as 1950, and this data has been used not only to review country level data, but also data at continental level.