RADIATION DOSE RATE MEASUREMENT FOR PROTECTION PROGRAMS IN THE WORK ENVIRONMENT FOR THE HEALTH WORKERS: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Abstract

Radiation is the energy emitted from electrons in particles or photons (waves) and is classified into nonionized and ionized. Ionizing radiation demonstrates the ability to disintegrate matter along its path and has proven beneficial in medicine. Exposure to this energy tends to instigate adverse effects on human health and heredity (genetics). However, the radiation is not directly measured but requires a nuclear detector to serve as a monitoring device. Radiation workers’ awareness of ionizing radiation levels in the work environment is one of the most important factors in preventing the negative effects of radioactivity. This is possibly identified using various types of detectors. This experiment aimed to provide an overview of radiation dose rate measurement under two conditions. First is the event of contamination in the work environment. The second involves using a detector to solely determine the dose rate from a single source, e.g., gamma radiation. Therefore, the radiation dose rate was evaluated by maximizing the use of detectors with a GUI as a survey meter for contamination. The highest rate (261.42 μSv / h) was observed at a distance of 5 mm, while the least (69.21 μSv / h) was recorded at 50 mm. Also, a dose rate of 5.4 μSv / h and 1.32 μSv / h was obtained at a 5 mm and 50 mm distance from the radiation source, respectively, following the operation as a gamma survey meter. This result shows strong linearity between both measurements and is estimated to accurately determine the contamination level of radioactive elements, alongside the doses rate of the gamma radiation emitting elements.