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Optically Stimulated Luminescence for Retrospective Radiation Dosimetry. The Use of Materials Close to Man in Emergency Situations

Geber-Bergstrand, Therése LU (2017)
Abstract
If an accident or attack involving radiological or nuclear material were to happen, people from the general public would be at risk of exposure to ionising radiation. Unlike people working with ionising radiation, for whom level of exposure to radiation is constantly monitored with dosemeters, people from the general population do not wear dosemeters; thus, the dose estimations for these individuals must be performed using alternative methods. This field of research is called retrospective dosimetry (or emergency dosimetry) and includes both biological and physical techniques. Following an accident or attack, dose estimations of potentially exposed individuals have to be performed as soon as possible, to give the proper medical care... (More)
If an accident or attack involving radiological or nuclear material were to happen, people from the general public would be at risk of exposure to ionising radiation. Unlike people working with ionising radiation, for whom level of exposure to radiation is constantly monitored with dosemeters, people from the general population do not wear dosemeters; thus, the dose estimations for these individuals must be performed using alternative methods. This field of research is called retrospective dosimetry (or emergency dosimetry) and includes both biological and physical techniques. Following an accident or attack, dose estimations of potentially exposed individuals have to be performed as soon as possible, to give the proper medical care promptly and, especially in the case of a large-scale incident, to use the available resources in the best and most effective manner.
In contrast to developing conventional dosemeter material, the approach for research into retrospective dosemeter materials is somewhat reversed. Instead of involving identification (or development) of a material that meets the set requirements, the work needs to conform to the properties of the materials found near or on people. This necessity often means that several materials/techniques are needed to fulfil the same requirements. In addition, exactly which materials will be present in a given situation is never certain, and the addition of new materials/methods that could be used for retrospective dosimetry thus is always a valuable contribution.
In this thesis, a number of materials found in the immediate vicinity of people have been investigated with regard to their potential to act as retrospective radiation dosemeters using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL). The materials include human teeth and dental repair materials, components from electronic devices, desiccants, and common household salt (NaCl). The aim is both to increase the number of materials that could be used with OSL and to further develop methods for the materials already known to have some dosimetric properties.
The overall conclusion of this work is that several materials found on or in the immediate vicinity of people can be used in retrospective dosimetry using OSL. Also, initial estimations of conversion factors for the transition between the dose to the retrospective dosemeter material and the dose to an individual have been obtained using an anthropomorphic phantom.
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author
supervisor
opponent
  • professor emerita Lund, Eva, Linköpings universitet
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Retrospective dosimetry, Emergency dosimetry, OSL
pages
64 pages
publisher
Lund University: Faculty of Medicine
defense location
Lilla Aulan, Jan Waldenströms gata 5, Skånes universitetssjukhus i Malmö.
defense date
2017-05-23 09:00:00
ISBN
978-91-7619-460-7
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
ISSN: 1652-8220 Lund University, Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series 2017:80
id
44effcd5-cae7-4819-9f47-ae5462f1f649
date added to LUP
2017-05-05 00:17:43
date last changed
2019-11-19 13:49:23
@phdthesis{44effcd5-cae7-4819-9f47-ae5462f1f649,
  abstract     = {{If an accident or attack involving radiological or nuclear material were to happen, people from the general public would be at risk of exposure to ionising radiation. Unlike people working with ionising radiation, for whom level of exposure to radiation is constantly monitored with dosemeters, people from the general population do not wear dosemeters; thus, the dose estimations for these individuals must be performed using alternative methods. This field of research is called retrospective dosimetry (or emergency dosimetry) and includes both biological and physical techniques. Following an accident or attack, dose estimations of potentially exposed individuals have to be performed as soon as possible, to give the proper medical care promptly and, especially in the case of a large-scale incident, to use the available resources in the best and most effective manner.<br/>In contrast to developing conventional dosemeter material, the approach for research into retrospective dosemeter materials is somewhat reversed. Instead of involving identification (or development) of a material that meets the set requirements, the work needs to conform to the properties of the materials found near or on people. This necessity often means that several materials/techniques are needed to fulfil the same requirements. In addition, exactly which materials will be present in a given situation is never certain, and the addition of new materials/methods that could be used for retrospective dosimetry thus is always a valuable contribution.<br/>In this thesis, a number of materials found in the immediate vicinity of people have been investigated with regard to their potential to act as retrospective radiation dosemeters using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL). The materials include human teeth and dental repair materials, components from electronic devices, desiccants, and common household salt (NaCl). The aim is both to increase the number of materials that could be used with OSL and to further develop methods for the materials already known to have some dosimetric properties.<br/>The overall conclusion of this work is that several materials found on or in the immediate vicinity of people can be used in retrospective dosimetry using OSL. Also, initial estimations of conversion factors for the transition between the dose to the retrospective dosemeter material and the dose to an individual have been obtained using an anthropomorphic phantom. <br/>}},
  author       = {{Geber-Bergstrand, Therése}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-7619-460-7}},
  keywords     = {{Retrospective dosimetry; Emergency dosimetry; OSL}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Lund University: Faculty of Medicine}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  title        = {{Optically Stimulated Luminescence for Retrospective Radiation Dosimetry. The Use of Materials Close to Man in Emergency Situations}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/24908646/GeberBergstrand_thesis.pdf}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}