EURADOS intercomparisons on whole-body dosemeters for photons from 2008 to 2020: analysis and comparison of general results

Abstract

Abstract Starting in 2008 the European Dosimetry Group (EURADOS) has been performing international intercomparisons (ICs) on photon whole-body dosemeters for individual monitoring services. These ICs have been organized (on a biennial basis) starting 2008 up to 2020 now, each time with a similar set-up but with small alterations in the subsequent irradiation plans. The response for Hp(10) and Hp(0.07) was tested for different radiation qualities, angles of incidences (0°–60°) within a wide range of dose values (0.5–500 mSv), to check energy and angular response, linearity, reproducibility and mixed-field response. Within the last 12 years almost 15 000 whole body dosemeters have been irradiated and the corresponding response values evaluated. With an increasing number of participants and participating systems (from 62 to 132), this IC program has become an important tool for individual monitoring services to test their whole-body dosimetry systems, compare their results with other services or systems and to improve the quality of their dosimetry. The paper presents and compares the general results of these seven ICs and analyses the dosimetric results for the participating system types.