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Onsite Direct Radiation Monitoring
Energy absorbed from radioactive materials residing outside the body
results in an external dose. External dose is measured by direct
radiation monitoring. NSTec uses a surveillance network of thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) to measure direct ionizing radiation
across the NTS. Natural background levels of radiation and elevated
levels of radiation caused by past or present NTS operations are both
measured. The objectives and design of the surveillance network are
described in detail in the Routine Radiological Environmental Monitoring
Plan.
The
surveillance network
[ PDF,
9 MB] is comprised of 109 TLD stations.
Direct radiation exposure to the public from NTS operations is
negligible. Areas accessible to the public (e.g., the parking lot for
commercial trucks outside the NTS entrance gate) has exposure rates
equal to natural background rates.
Radionuclide contamination at historic contaminated sites (legacy
sites) has resulted in localized elevated gamma exposure rates, but the
public has no access to these sites nor are there NTS personnel working
in these areas full-time.
A discussion of onsite direct radiation monitoring methods and a
presentation of summarized results for the last calendar year’s
monitoring efforts can be found in Chapter 5 of the currently published
Nevada Test Site Environmental Report
[
PDF, 9 MB].
Refer to the following Fact Sheet for more information:
What is
Radiation [PDF, 185KB]
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