Analysis of EURADOS neutron intercomparison results according to new ISO standards criteria.

The European Radiation Dosimetry Group has carried out several different types of intercomparison (IC) exercises in the past that qualify as proficiency tests for different dosimetry systems and types of radiation. The first neutron dosemeter IC was held in 2012 (IC2012n) and was followed by a second in 2017/2018 (IC2017n). In sum, 31 Individual Monitoring Services (IMSs) entered 34 dosimetry systems in IC2012n, and 32 IMSs entered 33 dosimetry systems for IC2017n.

Optimization of lipase production using fungal isolates from oily residues.

Lipases are triacylglycerol hydrolases that catalyze hydrolysis, esterification, interesterification, and transesterification reactions. These enzymes are targets of several industrial and biotech applications, such as catalysts, detergent production, food, biofuels, wastewater treatment, and others. Microbial enzymes are preferable for large scale production due to ease of production and extraction.

EURADOS STRATEGIC RESEARCH AGENDA 2020: VISION FOR THE DOSIMETRY OF IONISING RADIATION.

Since 2012, the European Radiation Dosimetry Group (EURADOS) has developed its Strategic Research Agenda (SRA), which contributes to the identification of future research needs in radiation dosimetry in Europe. Continued scientific developments in this field necessitate regular updates and, consequently, this paper summarises the latest revision of the SRA, with input regarding the state of the art and vision for the future contributed by EURADOS Working Groups and through a stakeholder workshop. Five visions define key issues in dosimetry research that are considered important over at least the next decade.

Chemical composition, extraction sources and action mechanisms of essential oils: Natural preservative and limitations of use in meat products.

The antimicrobial activity of essential oils (EO) is associated with the presence of secondary metabolites synthesized by plants. Its mechanism of action involves the interaction of its hydrophobic components with the lipids present in the cell membrane of microorganism, resulting in metabolic damages and cell death. Spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms are contaminants in meat and meat products with considerable impacts on food quality and safety.

Efficient, fast and reabsorption-free perovskite nanocrystal-based sensitized plastic scintillators.

The urgency for affordable and reliable detectors for ionizing radiation in medical diagnostics, nuclear control and particle physics is generating growing demand for scintillator devices combining efficient scintillation, fast emission lifetime, high interaction probability with ionizing radiation and mitigated reabsorption losses in large-volume/high-density detectors. To date, the simultaneous achievement of all such features is still an open challenge. Here we realize this regime with poly(methyl methacrylate) nanocomposites embedding CsPbBr perovskite nanocrystals as sensitizers for a conjugated organic dye featuring a large Stokes shift and a fast emission lifetime in the red spectral region.

EURADOS education and training activities.

This paper provides a summary of the Education and Training (E&T) activities that have been developed and organised by the European Radiation Dosimetry Group (EURADOS) in recent years and in the case of Training Courses over the last decade. These E&T actions include short duration Training Courses on well-established topics organised within the activity of EURADOS Working Groups (WGs), or one-day events integrated in the EURADOS Annual Meeting (workshops, winter schools, the intercomparison participants' sessions and the learning network, among others). Moreover, EURADOS has recently established a Young Scientist Grant and a Young Scientist Award.

EURADOS INTERCOMPARISONS IN EXTERNAL RADIATION DOSIMETRY: SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES AMONG EXERCISES FOR WHOLE-BODY PHOTON, WHOLE-BODY NEUTRON, EXTREMITY, EYE-LENS AND PASSIVE AREA DOSEMETERS.

The European Radiation Dosimetry Group (EURADOS) has been organising dosimetry intercomparisons for many years in response to an identified requirement from individual monitoring services (IMS) for independent performance tests for dosimetry systems. The participation in intercomparisons gives IMS the opportunity to show compliance with their own quality management system, compare results with other participants and develop plans for improving their dosimetry systems. In response to growing demand, EURADOS has increased the number of intercomparisons for external radiation dosimetry.

EURADOS IC2012N: FURTHER INFORMATION DERIVED FROM AN EURADOS INTERNATIONAL COMPARISON OF NEUTRON PERSONAL DOSEMETERS.

In 2012, the European Radiation Dosimetry Group (EURADOS) performed an intercomparison for neutron dosemeters that are intended to measure personal dose equivalent, Hp(10). A total of 31 participants registered with 34 dosimetry systems. The irradiation tests were chosen to provide the participants with useful information on their dosimetry systems, i.

EURADOS strategic research agenda: vision for dosimetry of ionising radiation.

Since autumn 2012, the European Radiation Dosimetry Group (EURADOS) has been developing its Strategic Research Agenda (SRA), which is intended to contribute to the identification of future research needs in radiation dosimetry in Europe. The present article summarises-based on input from EURADOS Working Groups (WGs) and Voting Members-five visions in dosimetry and defines key issues in dosimetry research that are considered important for the next decades. The five visions include scientific developments required towards (a) updated fundamental dose concepts and quantities, (b) improved radiation risk estimates deduced from epidemiological cohorts, (c) efficient dose assessment for radiological emergencies, (d) integrated personalised dosimetry in medical applications and (e) improved radiation protection of workers and the public.

EURADOS IC2012N: EURADOS 2012 intercomparison for whole-body neutron dosimetry.

The European Radiation Dosimetry Group (EURADOS) IC2012n intercomparison for neutron dosemeters intended to measure personal dose equivalent, Hp(10), was performed in 2012. A total of 31 participants (27 individual monitoring services from Europe, 2 from Japan, 1 from Israel and 1 from USA) registered with 34 dosimetry systems. Participation was restricted to passive or active neutron dosemeters routinely used in individual monitoring of radiation workers.

Hp(3)/Φ conversion coefficients for neutrons: discussion on the basis of the new ICRP recommended limit for the eye lens.

The new recommendation issued by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) introducing a 20-mSv annual dose limit for the eye lens stimulated an interesting debate among the radiation protection community. In the present work the problem of estimating Hp(3) for neutron realistic workplace spectra is treated, employing the recently published Hp(3)/Φ conversion coefficients with the aim of establishing a workplace-dependent relationship between Hp(10) and Hp(3). The results demonstrate that, whilst the two quantities can differ by less than 10 %, in general, Hp(10) cannot be considered a conservative estimate of Hp(3).

Air kerma to HP(3) conversion coefficients for photons from 10 keV to 10 MeV, calculated in a cylindrical phantom.

In the framework of the ORAMED project (Optimization of RAdiation protection for MEDical staff), funded by the European Union Seventh Framework Programme, different studies were aimed at improving the quality of radiation protection in interventional radiology and nuclear medicine. The main results of the project were presented during a final workshop held in Barcelona in January 2011, the proceedings of which are available in the open literature. One of the ORAMED tasks was focused on the problem of eye-lens photon exposure of the medical staff, a topic that gained more importance especially after the ICRP decision to lower the limiting equivalent dose to 20 mSv per year.

Evaluation of Royal Sun Agaricus, Agaricus brasiliensis S. Wasser et al., aqueous extract in mice challenged with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.

This study investigated the effects of Agaricus brasiliensis S. Wasser et al. (=Agaricus blazei Murrill sensu Heinem.

Eye lens dosimetry: task 2 within the ORAMED project.

The ORAMED (Optimization of RAdiation protection for MEDical staff) project is funded by EU-EURATOM within the 7° Framework Programme. Task 2 of the project is devoted to study the dose to the eye lens. The study was subdivided into various topics, starting from a critical revision of the operational quantity H(p)(3), with the corresponding proposal of a cylindrical phantom simulating as best as possible the head in which the eyes are located, the production of a complete set of air kerma to dose equivalent conversion coefficients for photons from 10 keV to 10 MeV, and finally, the optimisation of the design of a personal dosemeter well suited to respond in terms of H(p)(3).

ENEA extremity dosemeter based on LiF(Mg,Cu,P) to evaluate Hp(3,alpha).

Recent epidemiological studies suggest a rather low-dose threshold (<0.5 Gy) for the induction of a cataract of the eye lens. Some other studies even assume that there is no threshold at all.

The new EC technical recommendations for monitoring individuals occupationally exposed to external radiation.

The purpose of the European Commission technical recommendations (TR) for monitoring individuals occupationally exposed to external radiation is to provide guidance on those aspects of the implementation of the European Union Parliament and Council Directives directly related to individual monitoring of external radiation, and to encourage harmonisation thereof. They are mainly aimed at the management and staff of IM services but also at manufacturers, laboratories supplying type-testing services, national authorities trying to harmonise approval procedures, and government bodies to harmonise regulations and guidance. The TR main topics are: objectives and aims of IM for external radiation; dosimetry concepts; accuracy requirements; calibration, type testing and performance testing; approval procedures; quality assurance and quality control; and dose record keeping.

A co-ordinated network for radiation dosimetry (CONRAD): an overview.

The European Radiation Dosimetry Group (EURADOS) carried out a co-ordinated action, supported within the 6th Framework Programme of the European Commission entitled 'A Co-ordinated Network for Radiation Dosimetry (CONRAD)'. The project, executed from January 2005 to March 2008, yielded a large number of scientific results in different areas of dosimetry. This paper describes the objectives and general aspects of the project while the results are given in several contributions in this volume.

Standards, documents of relevance and directives in individual monitoring: is European individual monitoring in compliance with standards?

Individual monitoring services (IMS) in Europe do not comply with the same legal or approval requirements. Anyway, a degree of harmonisation existing in individual monitoring practices in Europe has been achieved mainly thanks to documents as standards or international recommendations, which with different weight represent invaluable vehicles of condensed information transfer. However, implementation of standards is not straightforward and harmonisation is not directly a consequence.

Personal dosimetry in terms of HP(3): Monte Carlo and experimental studies.

Hp(3) has been defined as the operational quantity for eye lens dosimetry. Hp(3)/ka conversion coefficients were evaluated at the GSF (Germany) in a 30x30x15 cm3 4-elements ICRU slab phantom for various energies and incident angles through Monte Carlo. The ISO report 12,794 suggests to employ a PMMA water filled phantom, of the same dimensions, for dosemeter calibration in terms of Hp(3).

Batch homogeneity of LiF(Mg,Cu,P)-GR200 and LiF(Mg,Cu,P)-MCP-NS TL detectors for use as extremity dosemeters at ENEA personal dosimetry service.

The results of a study of two commercially available LiF(Mg,Cu,P) TL materials, a GR200 detector and a MCP-Ns thin detector, are described in order to use these phosphors for individual monitoring for the extremities. After a dosimetry system has been type tested, the implementation routine is not straightforward. Additional tests and software modification are needed to make the routine system work comply with the type test results.