Practical Aspects on the Implementation of LiF:Mg,Cu,P in Routine Environmental Monitoring Programmes

• Published in: Radiation protection dosimetry 1999-01, Vol.85 (1-4), p.237-244
• Main Author: SAEZ VERGARA, J. C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied radiobiology (equipment, dosimetry...); Biological and medical sciences; Biological effects of radiation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Tissues, organs and organisms biophysics
• ISSN: 0144-8420; 1742-3406
• DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.rpd.a032842

The increasing interest of many environmental dosimetry programmes in the highly sensitive phosphor LiF:Mg,Cu,P is well justified for many basic and laboratory type testing activities. However, the impact of replacing a previous TL system normally based on LiF:Mg,Ti (which make up more than 60% of environmental TL systems) needs to be analysed. This paper begins with some notes about this highly sensitive phosphor, such as the very reliable low dose range features. The second part is devoted to a realistic comparison of LiF:Mg,Ti and LiF:Mg,Cu,P based systems, the experiments for which were carried-out at the CIEMAT Environmental Reference Station ESMERALDA. Finally, the preliminary results from a three-year field campaign involving 25 environmental sites and bi-monthly exposure periods permit the estimate that the expected impact on results when transferring from one system to the other is about 10% (25% in some single measurements).