Intercomparisons for individual monitoring services in Europe - organization, experience and results

The European radiation dosimetry group (EURADOS) has carried out a number of different intercomparison exercises in the last decades for different dosimetry systems. Some of these intercomparisons were carried out in cooperation or in parallel with the International Atomic Energy Agency (lAEA). These actions showed that intercomparisons are fundamental for the harmonisation of individual monitoring services (lMS). The participation in regular intercomparison exercises is recommended in the European Commission's technical recommendations. Consequently, EURADOS started to perform a programme of regular self-sustained intercomparisons of IMS within the framework of EURADOS. In 2008 the first intercomparison (lC2008) for whole body dosemeters was carried out, with bi-annual follow-ups in 2010 (lC2010) and 2012 (lC2012ph). Additionally in 2009 an intercomparison for extremity dosimeters (lC2009) for photon and beta radiation was performed and in 2012 an action for neutron dosemeters (lC2012n). The next whole body intercomparison (lC2014ph) is already announced and in preparation. This paper describes the general set-up of this programme including the experiences and results from the first sets of intercomparisons