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We report results of measurements of Hp(10) from whole body dosimeters (about 53 thousand readouts), of Hp(0.07) from finger ring dosimeters (23 thousand readouts) and of Hp(3) from eye lens dosimeters (100 readouts), issued in the years 2010-12 to over 150 medical departments in Poland which apply X-rays in radiology, interventional radiology (haemodynamic, angiology, cardiac surgery), urology, orthopaedics, electrophysiology or electro-cardiology. In all measurements thermoluminescence detectors (TLD) were used: the well-known standard MTS-N (LiF:Mg, Ti) for whole body and extremity dosimetry, and the high-sensitivity MCP-N (LiF:Mg, Cu, P) for eye lens dosimetry and environmental monitoring. We analysed the data base of the accredited Laboratory of Individual and Environmental Dosimetry (LADIS) at the Institute of Nuclear Physics PAN which offers its dosimetry service to these departments on a regular basis. We found that in the population of radiation workers that studied over the years 2010-2012 in 84%, 87%, and 34% of Hp(10), Hp(0.07) and Hp(3) measurements, respectively, the level of 0.1 mSv/quarter did not exceed, indicating lack of their occupational exposure. In the remaining 16%, 13% and 66% of individual cases, the 0.1 mSv/quarter exceeded, occasionally reaching several hundreds of mSv/quarter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The behavior of various TL dosimeters following two different thermal treatments with temperature ranging between 50 and 230 °C, was investigated in this particular study. The thermal treatment consists of two different protocols, including a simultaneous irradiation-heating and a post irradiation heating. The dosimeters that are the subject of the present study include two different families of lithium fluorides, namely the Harhsaw LiF family (TLD-600, TLD-700), LiF of the Krakow university (MTS-600, MTS-700), BeO and the commonly used CaSO 4 samples with two different impurities (Dy and Tm). According to the analysis, it seems that the TLDs and MTS-600 are identical with regard to their characteristics, while MTS-700 is different. The treatment showed that the intensities of peak 5 of all LiF samples increases up to 20–30% at 110 °C which is followed by a decrease, while the high temperature peaks of LiF showed a high dependence on the treatment temperatures. As for the case of BeO, one peak has a minor increase of 10% at 80–90 °C and a decrease up to 230%, while the other is stable. CaSO 4 samples show no increase and there is a decrease starting at 150 °C. Also, this work studied the kinetic parameters of all peaks for these samples via the computerized glow curve deconvolution method. In the end, there is a categorization of the LiF samples based on their properties and their glow curves. Lastly, the results indicate that the lack of strong increase of the TL response with increasing irradiation temperature for the majority of the TL peaks of these aforementioned phosphors does not support strong competition effects. A notable exception is observed for the high temperature TL peaks in all LiF samples regardless of whether these were purchased from Harshaw or from Poland. • The dependence on the temperature is different between the two protocols. • The high temperature peaks of the LiF samples follow strong competition effects. • Peak 5 of LiF and peak 2 of BeO do not follow strong competition effects. • The LiF samples can be categorized in two groups. • CaSO 4 samples show no increase in intensity through the thermal treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]