In recent years, several papers dealing with eye lens dosimetry have been published as epidemiological studies are implying that the induction of cataracts occurs even at eye lens doses of less than 500 mGy. For that reason, the necessity to monitor the eye lens may become more important than it was before. However, only few dosemeters for the appropriate quantity H(p)(3) are available. Partial-body dosemeters are usually designed to measure the quantity H(p)(0.07) calibrated on a rod phantom representing a finger while a slab phantom much better represents the head. Therefore, in this work it was investigated whether dosemeters designed for the quantity H(p)(0.07) calibrated on a rod phantom can also be worn on the head (close to the eyes) and still deliver correct results (H(p)(0.07) on a head). For that purpose, different types of partial-body dosemeters from routine use were irradiated at different photon energies on both a rod and a slab phantom. It turned out that their response values are within ±5% independent of the phantom if the quantity value for the respective phantom is used. Thus, partial-body dosemeters designed for the quantity H(p)(0.07) calibrated on a rod phantom may be worn on the head and used to monitor the eye lens dose due to photon radiation via the measurement of H(p)(0.07) on the head.

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An intercomparison of eye lens dosemeters has been conducted in terms of the quantity Hp(3). For the first time, besides photon radiation also beta radiation qualities were included. Three dosemeter types designed for the quantity Hp(3) and ten for Hp(0.07) took part in the intercomparison. As shown in a previous intercomparison for photon radiation only, the dosemeters designed for Hp(0.07) and calibrated in terms of Hp(3) performed well in photon radiation fields. But for beta radiation, it turned out that Hp(0.07) dosemeters over-responded up to a factor of 5 000 (with respect to the true Hp(3) dose) in the medium beta energy range (85Kr with a beta endpoint energy of 0.69 MeV), while some Hp(3) dosemeters performed quite well. For medium (57 keV) and high (662 keV) energy photon radiation, all dosemeter types showed response values well within the trumpet curve according to the current draft of ISO 14146.

In 1168, the first silver was found in the Saxon Erzgebirge. Mining began shortly thereafter and continues to this day at varying intensities. About 250 miners are permanently engaged in rehabilitation work at old mining sites so that houses and roads are safe and the mine water can drain through galleries. The radon potential in the Erzgebirge is high. Despite radiation protection measures, exposures to more than 6 mSv occurred among 22 miners in 2016 alone. For this reason, the miners are monitored with personal radon dosimetry. The dosimeters consist of diffusion chambers with CR-39 nuclear track detectors. Outside the miners’ working hours, the dosimeters must be stored together with a reference dosimeter. After a 3 mo wearing period, the dosimeters are replaced and the miners’ exposures are determined. For this purpose, the exposures of the reference dosimeters that have occurred outside working hours are subtracted from the exposures of the miners’ dosimeters. In mining practices, this method has caused problems. The conditions of use (storing dosimeters along with a reference dosimeter) were often not met by the miners. To solve the problems, reference dosimeters were replaced by radonproof boxes with activated carbon cartridges inside. The miners stored their dosimeters in the boxes outside working hours. A uniform reference value for the radon activity concentration of 50 Bq m −3 was used for all boxes to determine the exposure of miners during working hours. The associated error was small. In future, reference dosimeters and the measurement of a reference value will not be necessary.

Personal neutron dosimetry has been performed in Germany using albedo dosemeters for >20 y. This paper describes the main principles, the national standards, regulations and recommendations, the quality management and the overall performance, giving some examples.