ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOMETRY AROUND COAL-MINING WASTES USING MCP-N (LIF-MG,CU,P) DETECTORS AND GAMMA-RAY SPECTROMETRY

Natural gamma background dose rates 1 m above ground level were evalua ted using MCP-N detectors (LiF:Mg,CuP, produced at INP Krakow) at over 30 points, and the natural radioactivity of samples of materials depo sited at the Przezchlebie industrial stockpile gathered from some of t hese locations assessed off-site using gamma ray spectrometry. Measure ments were made in late spring over different parts of the stockpile a nd the neighbouring terrain, and repeated after one year. Above-ground gamma dose rates correlated well with the activity of elements in the Th-232 and U-238 series, the Ra-226 sub-series and K-40 measured in t he material samples. LiF:Mg,Cu,P (MCP-N) detectors are extremely conve nient for use in environmental dosimetry as their stability and sensit ivity allow field exposures to take no longer than two weeks, instead of three months required for LiF:Mg,Ti (TLD-100) detectors. This consi derably speeds up measurements and may prevent theft or displacement o f dosemeters in industrial conditions.