The RPII carries out several monitoring programmes to determine the levels of radioactivity in the environment and the doses received by the Irish population. External radiation levels and particulates in air are continuously monitored. In addition, rainfall is continuously collected. Samples of seawater, seaweed, sediment, fish and shellfish are collected from the marine environment. Samples of drinking water, milk, ‘complete meals’ and individual foodstuffs are collected from the land.