Environmental radiation measurements using TLD-900 at the King Saud University Campus, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

To determine the baseline environmental radiation and resulting population exposure, natural background levels at the King Saud University campus were measured using CaSO4:Dy (TLD-900) discs. Measurements were made 1 m above ground level at 10 locations. Two different calculational methods were utilized to account for signal fading. In the first method, a fading correction factor was determined and used separately. In the second method, a separate correction factor for fading was not required because the determined calibration factor was carrying this correction. Results of the two methods were similar. Measurements were performed on a quarterly basis for a 2-y period (January 1988 to December 1989). The annual average dose rate was 565.4 +/- 27.1 mu Gy y-1 in air.