Feasibility study of extremity dosemeter based on polyallyldiglycolcarbonate (CR-39) for neutron exposure
Résumé
In nuclear facilities, some activities such as reprocessing, recycling and production of bare fuel rods expose the workers to mixed neutron-photon fields. For several workplaces, particularly in glove boxes, some workers expose their hands to mixed fields. The mastery of the photon extremity dosimetry is relatively good, whereas the neutron dosimetry still raises difficulties. In this context, the Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) has proposed a study on a passive neutron extremity dosemeter based on chemically etched CR-39 (PADC: polyallyldiglycolcarbonate), named PN-3, already used in routine practice for whole body dosimetry. This dosemeter is a chip of plastic sensitive to recoil protons. The chemical etching process amplifies the size of the impact. The reading system for tracks counting is composed of a microscope, a video camera and an image analyser. This system is combined with the dose evaluation algorithm. The performance of the dosemeter PN-3 has been largely studied and proved by several laboratories in terms of passive individual neutron dosemeter which is used in routine production by different companies. This study focuses on the sensitivity of the extremity dosemeter, as well as its performance in the function of the level of the neutron energy. The dosemeter was exposed to monoenergetic neutron fields in laboratory conditions and to mixed fields in glove boxes at workplaces. © The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
Mots clés
neutron
nuclear reactor
radiation dose
radiation monitoring
relative biologic effectiveness
reproducibility
sensitivity and specificity
Equipment Design
Equipment Failure Analysis
Extremities
Feasibility Studies
Humans
Neutrons
Nuclear Reactors
Occupational Exposure
Polyethylene Glycols
Radiation Dosage
Radiation Monitoring
Radiation Protection
Relative Biological Effectiveness
Reproducibility of Results
Sensitivity and Specificity
carbonic acid derivative
polyallyldiglycolcarbonate
proton
unclassified drug
cr 39
macrogol derivative
algorithm
analyzer
article
dosimeter
dosimetry
feasibility study
microscope
neutron radiation
nuclear power plant
nuclear safety
occupational exposure
photon
radiation energy
radiation exposure
radiation field
radiation protection
videorecording
workplace
equipment
equipment design
evaluation
human
instrumentation
limb
methodology