MODEL RELEASED. Coastal radiation monitoring. Researchers using radiation detectors on a beach. They are monitoring the levels of radioactivity to see if the levels are high enough to damage the ecosystem or harm people living and working in the area. Most natural radiation is due to cosmic rays from space, and radon, a radioactive gas produced by the decay of radium from uranium ores. Human sources of radiation include nuclear power stations and pollution from coal-fired power stations. This work is being carried out by the UK's Health Protection Agency.