Hp(0.07) photon dosemeters for eye lens dosimetry: calibration on a rod vs. a slab phantom

In recent years, several papers dealing with eye lens dosimetry have been published as epidemiological studies are implying that the induction of cataracts occurs even at eye lens doses of less than 500 mGy. For that reason, the necessity to monitor the eye lens may become more important than it was before. However, only few dosemeters for the appropriate quantity H(p)(3) are available. Partial-body dosemeters are usually designed to measure the quantity H(p)(0.07) calibrated on a rod phantom representing a finger while a slab phantom much better represents the head. Therefore, in this work it was investigated whether dosemeters designed for the quantity H(p)(0.07) calibrated on a rod phantom can also be worn on the head (close to the eyes) and still deliver correct results (H(p)(0.07) on a head). For that purpose, different types of partial-body dosemeters from routine use were irradiated at different photon energies on both a rod and a slab phantom. It turned out that their response values are within ±5% independent of the phantom if the quantity value for the respective phantom is used. Thus, partial-body dosemeters designed for the quantity H(p)(0.07) calibrated on a rod phantom may be worn on the head and used to monitor the eye lens dose due to photon radiation via the measurement of H(p)(0.07) on the head.