Personal dosimetry in terms of HP(3):Monte Carlo and experimental studies

Hp(3) has been defined as the operational quantity for eye lens dosimetry. Hp(3)/ka conversion coefficients were evaluated at the GSF (Germany) in a 30 x 30 x 15 x cm3 4-elements ICRU slab phantom for various energies and incident angles through Monte Carlo. The ISO report 12,794 suggests to employ a PMMA water filled phantom, of the same dimensions, for dosemeter calibration in terms of Hp(3). The present paper briefly summarises the main aspects of a study carried out at ENEA-Radiation Protection Inst. (Bologna (Italy)) to provide practical procedures for the calibration of dosemeters in terms of Hp(3). Tabulations of a new set conversion coefficients and air kerma backscatter factors are provided as a function of energy and incident angle. The paper demonstrates that a more accurate approach to the dosimetric assessment in terms of Hp(3) could be rather simply introduced employing a reduced phantom. (authors)