Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2023. Vol. 68. № 6

DOI:10.33266/1024-6177-2023-68-6-118-124

O.A. Kochetkov¹, E.Yu. Tarasova², S.M. Shinkarev¹, E.A. Rumyantsev²

Comparison of Photon and Neutron Radiation Dosimetric Systems Used in Organizations of Rosatom State Corporation for Control in A Planned Exposure Situation

¹ A.I. Burnazyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center, Moscow, Russia

² The Federal Unitary State Enterprise – “Russian federal nuclear center – VNIIEF”, Sarov, Russia

Contact person: S.M. Shinkarev, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Using the example of reviewing and discussing the results of comparison tests of dosimetric systems of gamma and neutron radiation used in organizations of the State Corporation “Rosatom”, to assess the current state of reliability of monitoring the planned exposure of workers in fields of mixed gamma-neutron radiation using the considered dosimetric systems in order to produce recommendations for corrective actions to ensure a unified approach to conduct individual dosimetric control of external exposure.

Results: All measuring instruments for individual dose equivalent of photon and neutron radiation, presented in comparison tests, comply with up-to-date requirements for individual dosimetric control systems. All measuring instruments confirmed their measuring capabilities, showed satisfactory quality of measurement results and the absence of a systematic bias in the measurement results. Analysis of the results of measuring the individual dose equivalent of neutron radiation showed that problems affecting the quality of the results obtained were identified in the considered instruments of measuring personal dose equivalent. The following factors might be the sources of problems:

lack of knowledge about the real characteristics of radiation fields (spectral characteristics, radiation direction, etc.) at workplaces;

insufficient research of the method used for measuring neutron radiation under real conditions (technical and metrological characteristics and features of the individual dosimeters used);

failure to take into account the weighing coefficients for neutrons of various energies when measuring instruments are calibrated and when real measurements are conducted.

Conclusion: It is necessary to organize and conduct investigations of the metrological characteristics of the measuring instrument that are used under conditions typical for a specific radiation object. After finishing these experimental studies, it is recommended to test the methodology with an analysis of the compliance of the accuracy indicators with the requirements of the relevant guidelines. In order to solve the problem of a lack of knowledge about the real characteristics of radiation fields, radiation safety services of organizations are recommended to organize and conduct research aimed at studying such characteristics using radiometric and spectrometric methods, experimental modeling of the process of personnel exposure using anthropomorphic phantoms and determining correction factors for the individual dosimeters used.

Keywords: mixed gamma-neutron radiation, dosimeters, individual dosimetric control, comparison tests

For citation: Kochetkov OA, Tarasova EYu, Shinkarev SM, Rumyantsev EA. Comparison of Photon and Neutron Radiation Dosimetric Systems Used in Organizations of Rosatom State Corporation for Control in A Planned Exposure Situation. Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2023;68(6):118–124. (In Russian). DOI:10.33266/1024-6177-2023-68-6-118-124

References

1. Phantom Dosimetry Complex: Operation Manual. Sarov Publ., 2015.

2. Set of Dosimetric Phantoms ATOM. Ref.701 - 706. Passport. NPP “Dose”.

3. International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements. ICRU Report 19. Radiation Quantities and Units, 1971.

4. Sevastyanov V.D., Koshelev A.S., Maslov G.N. Characteristics of Neutron Fields: Handbook. NPO VNIIFTRI, 2007. 653 p.

5. Regulations on the Organization and Conduct of Interlaboratory Comparison Tests in Organizations of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom.

6. RMG 103-2010. Verification of the Qualifications of Testing (Measuring) Laboratories that Carry Out Testing of Substances, Materials, and Environmental Objects (in Terms of Composition and Physical and Chemical Properties) Through Interlaboratory Comparative Tests.

7. PMG-96-2009. Results and Quality Characteristics of Measurements. Forms of Presentation.

8. MI 2453-2015. Radiation Monitoring Techniques. General Requirements.

9. MU 2.6.5.026-2016. Dosimetric Monitoring of External Occupational Exposure. General Requirements.

10. MU 2.6.5.028-2016. Determination of Individual Effective and Equivalent Doses and Organization of Occupational Exposure Control under Controlled Conditions for Handling Radiation Sources. General Requirements.

11. MU 2.6.5.052-2017. Dosimetry. Determination of the Individual Effective Dose of Neutron Radiation.

 PDF (RUS) Full-text article (in Russian)

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Financing. The study had no sponsorship.

Contribution. Article was prepared with equal participation of the authors.

Article received: 20.07.2023. Accepted for publication: 27.08.2023.