Environmental radiometry around coal mining wastes using MCP-N (LiF:Mg,Cu,P) detectors and gamma ray spectrometry

Natural gamma background dose rates 1 m above ground level were evaluated using MCP-N detectors (LiF:Mg,Cu,P, produced at INP Krakow) at over 30 points, and the natural radioactivity of samples of materials deposited at the Przezchlebie industrial stockpile gathered from some of these locations assessed off-site using gamma ray spectrometry. Measurements were made in late spring over different parts of the stockpile and the neighbouring terrain, and repeated after one year. Above-ground gamma dose rates correlated well with the activity of elements in the 232Th and 238U series, the 226Ra sub-series and 40K measured in the material samples. LiF:Mg,Cu,P (MCP-N) detectors are extremely convenient for use in environmental dosimetry as their stability and sensitivity allow field exposures to take no longer than two weeks, instead of three months required for LiF:Mg,Ti (TLD-100) detectors. This considerably speeds up measurements and may prevent theft or displacement of dosemeters in industrial conditions. (Author)