PTB intercomparisons of passive H*(10) area dosemeters for environmental monitoring.

For measuring the quantity ambient dose equivalent, H*(10), various passive photon and neutron dosemeters have been newly developed and are used in particular for the monitoring of nuclear facilities in the radiation field of the natural ambient radiation. Since 2005, the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) has been performing intercomparisons to study fundamental properties and the long-term behaviour of area dosemeters under real environmental conditions, i.e. the accuracy of photon and neutron measurements performed in the complex natural radiation field. Measuring bodies from four European countries were the participants, including Germany. The goal was, on the one hand, quality assurance for existing passive dosemeters and measurement procedures and, on the other hand, the experimental investigation of whether the requirements of the appropriate standards and guidelines are met in practical use.