ESTIMATE OF THE ABSORBED DOSE RECEIVED BY INDIVIDUALS IRRADIATED WITHNEUTRONS

A simple method is proposed to estimate the neutron absorbed dose rece ived by a person, even when not wearing a neutron dosemeter. This is s pecially important in case of accidents. The method described uses the measurement of Na-24 and P-32 produced by activation in the human bod y for the neutron absorbed dose estimation. The calculation methodolog y has been developed using data taken from both the literature and exp erimental measurements. Other irradiation results with different neutr on energy spectra confirm the validity of the methodology proposed. Us ing a whole-body counter to measure Na-24 activity, it is possible to evaluate neutron absorbed dose of the order of 140 mu Gy of very soft (thermal) neutron spectra. For fast neutron fields, the lower limit fo r neutron absorbed dose detection increases but the method continues t o be useful in case of accidents.