Jan 01, 2007

Questions raised at a dosimetry symposium in 1998 have led to the development of a proposed new ASTM International standard, WK13464, Guide for Performance Characterization of Dosimeters for Use in Radiation Processing. WK13464 is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee E10.01 on Radiation Processing: Dosimetry and Applications, part of ASTM International Committee E10 on Nuclear Technology and Applications.
 
According to E10.01 member Rod Chu, the origins of WK13464 can be traced to the Symposium on Techniques for High Dose Dosimetry in Industry, Agriculture and Medicine sponsored by the International Atomic Energy Agency. “At the symposium, concerns were raised that many materials that exhibited a measurable radiation-induced change were claimed to be dosimeters, with no testing performed to determine the effects of influence quantities,” says Chu. “The concern was also raised that there were no criteria that a material had to meet before it could be considered a dosimeter.”
 
WK13464 was originally intended to alert developers of new routine dosimeters that influence quantities might affect the performance of dosimeters and to provide guidance for testing for these effects. However, Chu says that during the development process, it was decided that the guidance in WK13464 was applicable to all dosimeters, both new and those presently in use. Dosimeter manufacturers, suppliers of dosimetry systems, those performing dosimetry research in national laboratories or industrial organizations, and dosimeter users will all find WK13464 beneficial, according to Chu.
 
“This proposed standard has raised many issues and it is our goal to resolve these issues prior to the first publication of the standard,” says Chu. “Additional input from new participants is welcomed and encouraged, both for this standard and for other standards being developed by the subcommittee.” Chu also notes that input on WK13464 and other E10.01 standards is especially encouraged at this time because the subcommittee is looking at major changes to the structure of its standards. “Because our goal is to have all E10.01 standards published as ISO/ASTM standards, we would like to ensure that consensus is first obtained from ASTM members, before submitting them to review by members of ISO/TC 85 on Nuclear Energy,” says Chu.
 
For further technical information, contact Rod Chu, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (phone: 613/237-7184; rodchu@rogers.com). Committee E10 will meet June 24-27, 2007, at the June Committee Week in Norfolk, Va. For membership or meeting information, contact Jeff Adkins, manager, Technical Committee Operations, ASTM International (phone: 610/832-9738; ).