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Title: Background radiation accumulation and lower limit of detection in thermoluminescent beta-gamma dosimeters used by the centralized external dosimetry system

Abstract

A value for ``average background radiation`` of 0.75 mR/week has been determined from a total of 1680 thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD`s) exposed in 70 houses for periods up to one year. The distribution of results indicates a rather large variation among houses, with a few locations exhibiting backgrounds double the general average. Some discrepancies in the short-term background accumulation of TLD`s have been explained as being due to light leakage through the dosimeter cases. In addition the lower limit of detection (L{sub D}) for deep and shallow dose equivalents has been determined for these dosimeters. The L{sub D} for occupational exposure depends strongly on the time a dosimeter is exposed to background radiation in the field. The L{sub D} can vary from a low of 2.4 mrem for high energy gamma rays when the background accumulation period is less than a few weeks to values as high as 66 mrem for uranium beta particles when background has been allowed to accumulate for more than 21 weeks.

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
10109602
Report Number(s):
ORNL/TM-11995
ON: DE92005027
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-84OR21400
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Dec 1991
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; 61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY; THERMOLUMINESCENT DOSEMETERS; BACKGROUND RADIATION; VARIATIONS; OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE; LIMITING VALUES; RADIATION DOSES; 440102; 560101; RADIATION DOSEMETERS; DOSIMETRY AND MONITORING

Citation Formats

Sonder, E, and Ahmed, A B. Background radiation accumulation and lower limit of detection in thermoluminescent beta-gamma dosimeters used by the centralized external dosimetry system. United States: N. p., 1991. Web. doi:10.2172/10109602.
Sonder, E, & Ahmed, A B. Background radiation accumulation and lower limit of detection in thermoluminescent beta-gamma dosimeters used by the centralized external dosimetry system. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/10109602
Sonder, E, and Ahmed, A B. 1991. "Background radiation accumulation and lower limit of detection in thermoluminescent beta-gamma dosimeters used by the centralized external dosimetry system". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/10109602. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/10109602.
@article{osti_10109602,
title = {Background radiation accumulation and lower limit of detection in thermoluminescent beta-gamma dosimeters used by the centralized external dosimetry system},
author = {Sonder, E and Ahmed, A B},
abstractNote = {A value for ``average background radiation`` of 0.75 mR/week has been determined from a total of 1680 thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD`s) exposed in 70 houses for periods up to one year. The distribution of results indicates a rather large variation among houses, with a few locations exhibiting backgrounds double the general average. Some discrepancies in the short-term background accumulation of TLD`s have been explained as being due to light leakage through the dosimeter cases. In addition the lower limit of detection (L{sub D}) for deep and shallow dose equivalents has been determined for these dosimeters. The L{sub D} for occupational exposure depends strongly on the time a dosimeter is exposed to background radiation in the field. The L{sub D} can vary from a low of 2.4 mrem for high energy gamma rays when the background accumulation period is less than a few weeks to values as high as 66 mrem for uranium beta particles when background has been allowed to accumulate for more than 21 weeks.},
doi = {10.2172/10109602},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/10109602}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1991},
month = {Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1991}
}