Personnel dosimetry intercomparison studies at the Health Physics Research Reactor: a summary (1974-80)

Six personnel dosimetry intercomparison studies using the Health Physics Research Reactor at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory were conducted between 1974 and 1980. These studies allowed participants to test their neutron and gamma-ray dosimeters under a variety of mixed-field spectral conditions and to compare their results with those of others making measurements under identical conditions. Fifty-eight participant organizations, about half of which participated in more than one study, made approx. 2000 measurements of the neutron and gamma-dose-equivalent. Dose equivalents in the 0.1-12 mSv (i.e. 10-1200 mrem) range were determined for five different shielded reactor spectra using three basic types of dosimeters (thermoluminescent albedo, nuclear emulsion film and track etch) for neutron measurements and two basic types (film and thermoluminescent dosimeters) for the gamma-measurements. The data from the six studies are summarized, analyzed and explained. Intercomparison of the participants' results and consideration of reference dosimetry allows several conclusions to be made relative to the status of and trends in personnel neutron and gamma-ray dosimetry.