The energy and angular Hp(3,a) response of commercial eye-lens dosemeters to photon and beta particle radiation

In 2012, the International Commission on Radiological Protection recommended a reduction of the equivalent dose limit for the lens of the eye from 150 mSv to 50 mSv per year, with a maximum 5-year average of 100 mSv. This noticeable reduction imposes more demands on the performance on personnel eye-lens dosimetry. Regulatory authorities of various jurisdictions worldwide followed some or all, of the ICRP recommendations and implemented reduced occupational lens of eye dose limits in their legislation. Commercial dosimetry service providers have risen to the challenges by developing new dosemeter technologies, and some in-house dosimetry services have developed their own eye-lens dosemeters. The results of the energy and angular response, to photon and beta radiation, of three commercial dosemeters are reported here. Their performances are compared to those of the dosemeter developed, in-house, by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories. With some adjustments to their calibrations, the responses of all dosemeters, could be within the performance limits set by the ISO 14146 and the IEC 62387 standards for the conditions of the tests that were performed.