Extremity dosimetry trial: Devonport Royal Dockyard

Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2008;130(3):269-84. doi: 10.1093/rpd/ncn052. Epub 2008 Mar 4.

Abstract

This trial was undertaken to assess extremity dosemeters, which were made available to Devonport Royal Dockyard and determine the most suitable to the site. The trial included operational and laboratory-based exposures. Operational exposures were within a submarine reactor compartment and a waste storage area. Laboratory exposures were undertaken using (241)Am, (137)Cs and (60)Co sources to compare and contrast the dosemeters energy response. In addition, the low dose response and the response if placed in the incorrect orientation were also assessed. Ten passive and two active dosemeters were tested, with three highlighted as the most technically suitable, DSTL Harshaw DXT-RAD, HPA Harshaw EXT-RAD and the AMEC Panasonic UD-807A. The most technically suitable dosemeter was the DSTL Harshaw DXT-RAD, due to good responses within all aspects of the trial and the user's preference for the ring type design. The John Caunt ED2 electronic dosemeter 2 (ED2) also performed well, but suffered radio frequency interference.

MeSH terms

  • Calibration
  • Cesium Radioisotopes / analysis
  • Cobalt Radioisotopes / analysis
  • Electronics
  • Equipment Design
  • Humans
  • Nuclear Reactors
  • Occupational Exposure
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Radiation Monitoring
  • Radiation Protection / methods*
  • Radiometry / methods*
  • Spectrometry, Gamma
  • United Kingdom

Substances

  • Cesium Radioisotopes
  • Cobalt Radioisotopes