radiation field.

Therefore,

its

stakes at a height of 1 m above the

response is often used as a

ground.

reference to which other measure-

chosen to obtain exposures over the

ments may be compared.

full range of gamma exposure rates

The chamber

The locations were carefully

walls are sufficiently thick to

observed by the portable instrument

render the detector insensitive

survey.

to the beta radiation present in

period,

fallout fields.

and handearried (by air)

however,

The instrument is,

sensitive to cosmic

After the 3-month exposure
the dosimeters were retrieved

in a lead

econtainer to Livermore for readout.

radiation.

We studied calibration and signal

Further gamma exposure rate
comparisons were made by means of

fading by exposing separate sets of
37
Cs point source before
TLD's to a

LiF and CaF: Dy thermoluminescent

and after the exposure period.

dosimeters (TLD's) placed at 80

special low-scatter calibration

locations.

fixture was constructed for field use

The LiF chip displays

A

an essentially flat.energy response

which aided in obtaining uniform,

and excellent thermal stability.

The response of LiF is within

The intensity
reproducible exposures.
137
.
.
of the
Cs calibration source was

approximately 1% of being air

determined by

equivalent for a typical environmental radiation field.

e

Using a NBS calibrated Radocon*
chamber

The CaF,:
2

Dy TLD's have an enhanced energy

Comparing the response of a set

response at low energies, and

of TLD's exposed to a NBS-

were used to detect possible low-

calibrated

energy radiation fields by comparison

obtained from the calibration

with the LiF readings.

SOUrCE

The LiF and

0

Co source to that

known. .within +

Car, chips were matched to 5% and

The

4% vespectively within each batch.

at one standard deviation.

The TLD's were annealed on the atoll

calibration

is

We stered a set of control TLD's

immediately before being placed on

in a lead pig on a "clean" island

the two islands.

in the Marshalls during the

Two Lawrence

3%

Livermore Laboratory (LLL) plastic
personnel badges containing three
LiF and three car, chips were placed

at each field location.

The TLD

packets were attached to trees by

|

=

———_

Seared

nylon straps or placed on wooden

*Reference to a company or product
name does not imply approval or
recommendation of the product by
the University of California or the
U.S. Energy Research & Development

Administration to the exclusion of
others that may be suitable,

Select target paragraph3