Basic characteristics of radiation protection instruments on the Japanese market: assurance of the quality of measurements in correspondence with international standards

In the present paper we investigate metrological characteristics of the most popular radiation dosimeters which have been appeared on the Japan Market after the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident. After the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster a great number of radiation detectors for the radiation protection from different manufacturers are available on Japan consumer market. We have selected 6 the most selling instruments that measure ambient and personal equivalent dose (rate) and investigated the correspondence of their metrological and operational characteristics to requirements of international standards. As the latter ones we have considered IEC 60846-1/61526 that applied to the instrumentation of such type (Japan standard JIS Z 4312:2002 for the radiation protection equipment is partially based on IEC 61526). We have revealed that number of dosimeters for general public intended for the daily use show the poor performance and non-compliance to the requirements of the above standards. (authors)