The possible spread of contamination to clean areas was controlled by
requiring personnel who entered a contaminated area to exit through a check
point where they could be monitored and decontaminated as necessary.

Most

scientific project or other personnel whose activities required entry into
highly radioactive areas were issued anti~contamination clothing (including
coveralls, booties, and gloves) that could be easily removed, if needed, at
the check station decontamination point. It should be emphasized that such
clothing did not provide any more protection against external radiation

(alpha, beta, or gamma) than did ordinary clothing or military fatigues.

This

disposable clothing was provided simply as a convenience for contamination
control and laundry purposes.

Ordinary clothing and fatigues that could not

be decontaminated also had to be replaced at the check station decontamination
point.
5.2.2

Use of Radiation Detection and Measurement Instruments.

Monitors used several types of radiation survey instruments.

The

‘

majority were gas-filled detectors, specifically ionization chamber, GeigerMueller counter, and gas-flow proportional counters.

These detectors relate

the intensity of the incident radiation to the effects of ionization produced

by the radiation in a gas-filled "sensitive volume."

Some of the other

instruments took advantage of the fact that certain materials emit light when
struck by radiation.

These instruments, called scintillation detectors,

simply relate the amount of light produced in the detection medium to the
intensity of the incident radiation.

Both gas-filled and scintillation

detectors were used, depending upon the basic design of the instrument, to
detect and measure alpha, beta, and/or gamma radiation.
The survey instruments mentioned above portray the radiation intensity in
terms of rate (e.g., milliroentgens or roentgens per hour or counts per
minute).

In some cases, test participants were issued pocket dosimeters that

provided information on cumulative exposure.

These dosimeters, about the size

and shape of a writing pen, consisted of a small ionization chamber coupled to
a miniature electroscope.

One type of pocket dosimeter (self-reading)

included an optical system that allowed the wearer to determine his cumulative
exposure while in the field. Other types required a separate charger-reader.

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