Individual monitoring for internal exposure in Europe and the integration of dosimetric data

The European Radiation Dosimetry Group, EURADOS, established a working group consisting of experts whose aim is to assist in the process of harmonisation of individual monitoring as part of the protection of occupationally exposed workers. A catalogue of facilities and internal dosimetric techniques related to individual monitoring in Europe has been completed as a result of this EURADOS study. A questionnaire was sent in 2002 to services requesting information on various topics including type of exposures, techniques used for direct and indirect measurements including calibration and sensitivity data and the methods employed for the assessment of internal doses. Information relating to Quality Control procedures for direct and indirect measurements, Quality Assurance Programmes in the facilities and legal requirements for ‘approved dosimetric services' were also considered. A total of 71 completed questionnaires were returned by internal dosimetry facilities in 26 countries. This results in an overview of the actual status of the processes used in internal exposure estimation in Europe. In many ways harmonisation is a reality in internal dose assessments, especially when taking into account the measurements of the activity retained or excreted from the body. However, a future study detailing the estimation of minimum detectable activity in the laboratories is highly recommended. Points to focus on in future harmonisation activities are as follows: the process of calculation of doses from measured activity, establishment of guidelines, similar dosimetric tools and application of the same ICRP recommendations. This would lead to a better and more harmonised approach to the estimation of internal exposures in all European facilitie

Thermoluminescent detectors applied in individual monitoring of radiation workers in Europe—a review based on the EURADOS questionnaire

Among the activities of EURADOS Working Group 2 formed by experts from several European countries is the harmonisation of individual monitoring as part of radiation protection of occupationally exposed persons. Here, we provide information about thermoluminescent detectors (TLDs) applied by the European dosimetric services and the dosimetric characteristics of dosemeters in which these detectors are applied. Among 91 services from 29 countries which responded to the EURADOS questionnaire, 61 apply dosemeters with TLDs for the determination of personal dose equivalent Hp(10) for photons and beta radiation, and 16 services use TLDs for neutron albedo dosemeters. Those most frequently used are standard lithium fluoride TLDs (mainly TLD-100, TLD-700, Polish MTS-N and MTS-7, Russian DTG-4), high-sensitive lithium fluoride (GR-200, MCP-N) and lithium borate TLDs. Some services use calcium sulphate and calcium fluoride detectors. For neutron dosimetry, most services apply pairs of LiF:Mg,Ti TLDs with 6Li and 7Li. The characteristics (energy response) of individual dosemeters are mainly related to the energy response of the detectors and filters applied. The construction of filters in dosemeters applied for measurements of Hp(10) and their energy response are also reviewe

Workplace monitoring for exposures to radon and to other natural sources in Europe: integration of monitoring for internal and external exposures

Part of the action of the EURADOS working group (European Radiation Dosimetry Group) on ‘Harmonisation of Individual Monitoring in Europe' was to investigate how the results from personal dosemeters for external radiation, from monitoring for internal exposure and from workplace monitoring, can be combined into a complete and consistent system of individual monitoring. To facilitate this work, the ‘EURADOS questionnaire Q3' relating to radon and other natural sources of radiation in the workplace was distributed to relevant institutes across Europe. A total of 24 countries replied to the questionnaire. This study offers an important overview on actual regulations, national standards and reference levels for protection of employees from radon and other natural sources in different workplace scenarios. Information was also collected on individual monitoring and area monitoring to determine individual doses in workplaces with elevated levels of natural radiation. The article discusses in detail the results obtained showing by country the reference level in workplaces for radon gas and other natural sources. In both instances, exposures in mines, other underground workplaces, industry workplaces/waterworks, offices, schools and day-care homes were considered. The resultant data clearly indicate that there is a need for harmonisation among countries, not least in the areas of regulation and use of reference levels in the workplac

Individual monitoring for internal exposures in Europe: Conclusions of an EURADOS action

Once the EC Directive 96/29 has been implemented into national regulation across Europe, the coordination of dosimetry laboratories for the monitoring of occupational exposures becomes the principal aim to achieve. Within this framework the European Radiation Dosimetry Group, EURADOS, carried out an Action on ‘Harmonisation of Individual Monitoring' (2000-2004) to promote coordination in the field of individual monitoring of occupational exposures throughout Europe. With reference to internal exposures, the main aims were the completion of a catalogue of internal dosimetry services and an inventory of methods and techniques used for individual monitoring at European internal dosimetry facilities. At the end of this EURADOS Action, a report was published in Radiation Protection Dosimetry in 2004. The information collected related to various topics: the equipments used for the measurement of internal exposures, calibration and sensitivity data, the methods applied for the assessment of internal doses, Quality Control procedures, Quality Assurance Programmes in the facilities and legal requirements. The information to be presented here will give a general overview of the actual status of individual monitoring for internal exposures in Europ

The relationship between the perception of distributed leadership in secondary schools and teachers' and teacher leaders' job satisfaction and organizational commitment

This study investigates the relation between distributed leadership, the cohesion of the leadership team, participative decision-making, context variables, and the organizational commitment and job satisfaction of teachers and teacher leaders. A questionnaire was administered to teachers and teacher leaders (n=1770) from 46 large secondary schools. Multiple regression analyses and path analyses revealed that the study variables explained significant variance in organizational commitment. The degree of explained variance for job satisfaction was considerably lower compared to organizational commitment. Most striking was that the cohesion of the leadership team and the amount of leadership support was strongly related to organizational commitment, and indirectly to job satisfaction. Decentralization of leadership functions was weakly related to organizational commitment and job satisfaction

A peer review of the RPII monitoring programme

The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) has carried out a programme to monitor environmental radioactivity for many years. In 2009, a group of independent, international experts was requested to undertake a comprehensive strategic review of the programme. Here the objectives, terms of reference and process of this review are presented. As background, the legislative framework in which the programme is operated is laid out. The current programme is also summarised. Finally, the main conclusions and recommendations are described along with relevant changes to the programme which were subsequently enacted by the RPII

A system for archiving and reporting environmental radioactivity monitoring data

A new information system for archiving and reporting the RPII’s environmental radioactivity monitoring data has been designed. The main objectives of the proposed system are: centralised storage of these data in a standard format; and standardised reporting and exporting functionality. This paper presents a conceptual model and prototype of the proposed system

An assessment of aquatic radiation pathways in Ireland

Members of the public are exposed to radiation because of where they live and their habits bring them into contact with sources of radiation. They may be exposed directly by the source, by direct irradiation or inhalation of released activity or indirectly by exposure to contaminated environmental materials such as food. Consequently habit data are an essential part of dose assessment for members of the public [1]. Previously no detailed surveys had been undertaken in Ireland of habit data relevant to the assessment of doses to the population from radioactivity in the marine environment. Instead RPII dose assessments were made on the basis of assumed or notional data inferred from habit surveys undertaken elsewhere and from national average consumption figures. Following a tender process the Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science, Cefas, UK, were commissioned to undertake a Habits Survey. Its report [2] provides an assessment of aquatic radiation exposure pathways in Ireland relating to anthropogenic radioactivity in the Irish Sea