Open AccessAssessment of the ambient dose rate around research reactors by thermoluminescence dosimeters
Author(s) -
A Tanveer Memon,
Khalid Saifullah Khan,
Abdul Jabbar,
Perveen Akhter
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
nuclear technology and radiation protection
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.31
H-Index - 16
eISSN - 1452-8185
pISSN - 1451-3994
DOI - 10.2298/ntrp1001041m
Subject(s) - thermoluminescent dosimeter , dosimeter , criticality , environmental science , dose rate , nuclear engineering , research reactor , effective dose (radiation) , health physics , nuclear medicine , radiation protection , medicine , medical physics , nuclear physics , physics , dosimetry , engineering , neutron
Monitoring of radiation levels in and around the nuclear research reactors is essential to safe-guarding life and the environment. Background radiation monitoring at the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology (PINSTECH) has been carried out since the early sixties, before the criticality of the 5 MW Pakistan Research Reactor, so as to confirm the safe operation of PINSTECH nuclear facilities. In the present study, ambient dose rate levels were measured around PINSTECH by using TLD-200 (G-2 cards) installed at 15 different locations over a five year period (1998-2002). The mean dose rates for individual locations in the said period ranged from 0.14 ± 0.01 to 0.19 ± 0.03 µSv/h, with a mean value of 0.16 ± 0.03 µSv/h. The cu- mulative average annual effective dose equivalent spread over 5 years was 204.4 ± 17 µSv. The data were compared with the world and averages in other countries. It was concluded that, from the health hazard point of view, the operation of research reactors and other nuclear facilities at PINSTECH presents no risk to public health