Performance assessment of commonly used active radiation protection dosimeters for individual and area workplace monitoring

Abstract

Background

Improvement in radiation protection practice may be achieved by acquisition of reliable and accurate dosimetry data. Use of dosimeters with known properties provides insight into their performance in real radiation fields encountered in radiation monitoring practice.

Aim

Performance evaluation in a wide range of radiation conditions provides insight into dosimeter behaviour, providing input for revision, update and harmonization of IEC type testing standards.

Methods

A total of 32 active dosimeters were investigated, of which 26 are used for area workplace, and 6 for individual monitoring. Dosimeter performance was evaluated against the IEC 60846–1:2009 standard for portable workplace and environmental meters and monitors and the IEC 61526:2024 standard for active personal dosimeters in a wide range of photon energies, angles of incidence and dose equivalent rates. Performance was examined beyond the minimum rated range: 33.3 keV–1.25 MeV photon energy; (0°; ±75°) angle of incidence for personal dosimeters and (0°; ±120° with 180°) for area dosimeters; 3 μSv h⁻¹ – 7 Sv h⁻¹ dose rate range. In addition, dosimeter short-term stability and overload properties were investigated.

Results

State-of-the-art and commonly used dosimeters complied with the standard defined limits of variation with respect to the manufacturer stated specifications. Some dosimeters had significantly lower variations in terms of relative response than the current standard stated requirements.

Conclusion

Potential update of the relevant IEC type testing standards was considered, with the possibility of introducing two distinct dosimeter classes, one of which would comply with reduced limits of variation.