Environmental dosimetry in northwest Patagonia using LiF:Mg,Cu,P: Analysis of reproducibility, sensitivity, and fading changes over time

AbstractThe environmental radiation dose depends on many factors, which have to be taken into account when monitoring programs are implemented. The aim of this study was to analyze the fading, reproducibility, and sensitivity changes over time in LiF:Mg,Cu,P dosimeters used in the environmental radiation monitoring program at Bariloche Atomic Centre, Argentina. The environmental monitoring has been carried out since 2011, and the dosimeters readout was performed on a 2-month and on a 6-month basis monitoring period. The results were analyzed by applying descriptive statistics based on the coefficients of variation, the average, and the standard deviation of the measurements carried out. From the results of this study, the reproducibility and sensitivity of the dosimeters are clearly affected as the time goes by. It is evident that a better reproducibility can be achieved by carefully selecting the individual dosimeters or using the individual sensitivity factors associated with each dosimeter. The results have also shown no evidence to apply a fading correction factor when the monitoring period is shorter than 2 months. Nevertheless, the thermoluminescent signal should be increased a 10% when the monitoring is based on a 6-month period. The use of thermoluminescent dosimeters in the environment monitoring programs proved to be appropriate and useful when taken account of the changes in the reproducibility, sensitivity, and fading response over time.