RENEB Inter-Laboratory Comparison 2021: Inter-Assay Comparison of Eight Dosimetry Assays.

Tools for radiation exposure reconstruction are required to support the medical management of radiation victims in radiological or nuclear incidents. Different biological and physical dosimetry assays can be used for various exposure scenarios to estimate the dose of ionizing radiation a person has absorbed. Regular validation of the techniques through inter-laboratory comparisons (ILC) is essential to guarantee high quality results.

Mobile phone screen protector glass: A TL investigation of the intrinsic background signal.

Screen protector glasses are often used to protect the display screen surface of mobile phones against physical damage. Their dosimetric properties were recently studied by thermoluminescence with the aim of using these items as potential emergency dosimeters in the event of a radiological accident. They are sensitive to ionizing radiation and they could be easily removed and replaced without destroying the phone in case of a dose assessment.

The 2019-2020 EURADOS WG10 and RENEB Field Test of Retrospective Dosimetry Methods in a Small-Scale Incident Involving Ionizing Radiation.

With the use of ionizing radiation comes the risk of accidents and malevolent misuse. When unplanned exposures occur, there are several methods which can be used to retrospectively reconstruct individual radiation exposures; biological methods include analysis of aberrations and damage of chromosomes and DNA, while physical methods rely on luminescence (TL/OSL) or EPR signals. To ensure the quality and dependability of these methods, they should be evaluated under realistic exposure conditions.

On the use of retrospective dosimetry to assist in the radiological triage of mass casualties exposed to ionising radiation.

The reconstruction of the Cochabamba (Bolivia) radiological incident (IAEA-International Atomic Energy Agency 2004 The Radiological Accident in Cochabamba STI/PUB/1199 (Vienna: IAEA)) was used to assess and evaluate retrospective dosimetry methodologies. For this purpose an unshielded radioactive source was placed inside a transportation vehicle (bus) resembling a radiological exposure device. External doses were assessed using water and anthropomorphic phantoms that were placed at various positions in the vehicle and equipped with both fortuitous dosimeters (chip cards, mobile phones), individual dosimeters (electronic dosimeters, thermoluminescent and optically stimulated luminescence dosimeters) and in three cases also with blood sample tubes in thermos flasks for cytogenetic methods.

UNCERTAINTY ON RADIATION DOSES ESTIMATED BY BIOLOGICAL AND RETROSPECTIVE PHYSICAL METHODS.

Biological and physical retrospective dosimetry are recognised as key techniques to provide individual estimates of dose following unplanned exposures to ionising radiation. Whilst there has been a relatively large amount of recent development in the biological and physical procedures, development of statistical analysis techniques has failed to keep pace. The aim of this paper is to review the current state of the art in uncertainty analysis techniques across the 'EURADOS Working Group 10-Retrospective dosimetry' members, to give concrete examples of implementation of the techniques recommended in the international standards, and to further promote the use of Monte Carlo techniques to support characterisation of uncertainties.