Dose Reconstruction After a WD‒XRF Spectrometer Accident Using Minute-Rate TLD Measurements

Accurate dose estimation following radiation accidents remains challenging, particularly when personal dosimeter data are unavailable. This study presents a practical post-accident dose reconstruction approach based on minute-rate thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) measurements combined with exposure scenario reconstruction, demonstrated through a wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD‒XRF) spectrometer accident. The exposure scenario was reconstructed by placing LiF(Mg,Cu,P) TLDs at seven representative positions corresponding to head and hand locations, with the spectrometer operated under the recorded technical parameters (40 kV, 7 mA). Minute personal dose equivalent rates, H _p'(10), were measured and combined with reconstructed retention times to calculate cumulative doses, from which skin absorbed doses were derived. The measured dose rates ranged from 0.13 to 358.38 mSv/min for the head and from 0.07 to 620.24 mSv/min for the hands. The resulting cumulative skin absorbed doses were 7.58 Gy for the head and 12.52 Gy for the hands, consistent with reported dose ranges associated with localized radiation injury. This approach provides a feasible supplementary strategy for retrospective dose reconstruction under emergency or resource-limited conditions when conventional dosimetric information is unavailable.