A PERFORMANCE-TEST OF UK PERSONAL DOSIMETRY SERVICES FOR FAST-NEUTRONS

In order to provide quantitative information on the quality of fast ne utron dosimetry services in the UK, the NPL has carried out a performa nce test of these services. A summary is given of the dosemeters teste d, and the irradiation methods are described. Neutrons from both an Am -214-Be and a Cf-252 source were used to deliver dose equivalents in t he range 0.5 mSv to 170 mSv. The data have been analysed in terms of t he bias and standard deviation in the ratios of reported to reference dose equivalent. There was a tendency for dosemeters to over-respond a t the lower dose equivalent values and under-respond at higher values. The spread in individual readings was high for the lowest dose equiva lents, but decreased as the dose equivalent became larger.