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Re: quarterly vs. monthly TLDs revisited



Dear Wyoming,

We have been using quarterly TLDs here in Oak Ridge for some time.  A few 
comments on badging individuals:  If you have one person who is expected to 
receive >100 mrem, and only give them a dosimeter, his/her buddy working at the 
next desk will get "Jealous".  If you monitor one, you will have a hard time 
justifying not monitoring all.  One argument for preserving pay for external 
dosimetrists is that if there was a hazard requiring me to wear a TLD in the 
past, what has been done to eliminate the hazard.  This is a cop out, but it 
works sometimes.  In addition, can you really justify expected exposures from 
one building to another? (Tell that to the Judge.)  

I agree with the comment regarding 3X the possibility of failure due to false 
positives/unusual TLD response.  The caveat to that is you will have a harder 
time doing a dose estimate for a period of 3 months rather than one.  Depending 
on the source of ionizing radiation, the TLD will have a varying LLD.  This can 
be anywhere from 10-40+mr.  Much of the LLD is TLD type specific.  The real 
savings will be in record keeping, unless you reduce staff.

Rob Gunter
gunterrj@ornl.gov

Disclaimer:  The comments above were not induced or approved by anyone above me 
in the food chain... Bla Bla Bla, Bla Bla, Bla.