Measurement of neutron radiation exposure of commercial airline pilots using bubble detectors
- 1. Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario (Canada). Dept. of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- 2. Defense Research Establishment Ottawa, Ontario (Canada). Space Systems and Technology Section
- 3. Air Canada Flight Operations, Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)
- 4. Air France-Direction des Operations Aeriennes, Roissy Charles de Gaulle (France)
Description
Neutron bubble detectors have been used over a 1-yr period by commercial airline pilots from Air Canada and Air France to measure the high-altitude neutron radiation exposure produced by galactic cosmic rays. The present work yielded measurements of the neutron flux of 1.0 to 4.6 n/cm2·s, and the neutron dose equivalent rates of 1.7 to 7.7 μSν/h. These measurements are in agreement with previous studies using high-altitude aircraft and conventional neutron instrumentation. The total dose equivalents for the Air Canada flights are also consistent with predictions of the CARI code. Considering that the neutron component contributes ∼ 50% of the total dose equivalent, this study indicates that the annual dose for the air crew member would exceed the new recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP-60) for the general public
Additional details
Publishing Information
- Journal Title
- Nuclear Technology
- Journal Volume
- 106
- Journal Issue
- 3
- Journal Page Range
- p. 373-383.
- ISSN
- 0029-5450
- CODEN
- NUTYBB
INIS
- Country of Publication
- United States
- Country of Input or Organization
- United States
- INIS RN
- 25066609
- Subject category
- S61: RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY;
- Descriptors DEI
- AVIATION PERSONNEL; COSMIC RADIATION; DOSE LIMITS; NEUTRON DETECTORS; RADIATION DOSES; RADIATION PROTECTION
- Descriptors DEC
- IONIZING RADIATIONS; MEASURING INSTRUMENTS; PERSONNEL; RADIATION DETECTORS; RADIATIONS; SAFETY STANDARDS; STANDARDS