Dosimetry for non-ionizing radiation

Several commercially available phosphor-teflon dosimeters were subjected to thermal fade studies. The thermoluminescence dosimetry (TLD) tags were washed and air dried prior to each ionizing radiation pretreatment. Readings made over 3 weeks on the CaF2:Mn and CaF2:Dy TLD tags did not produce measurable thermal-fade characteristics for the 22 to 310C temperature range. Nonionizing radiation treatments were at 2.45 GHz. While the results obtained did demonstrate decreases in signal levels over time and temperature changes, the patterns were not smooth, making it impossible to establish differences in TLD readings as quantitative measures of temperature differences which could serve as measures of long-term exposures to nonionizing radiation. The authors concluded that, due to the irregularities that existed in the thermal fade characteristics, the dosimeter would not be suitable for quantifying exposures to nonionizing radiation. There was significant potential in the device, however, as an indicator of radiation leakage or exposure