Experience gained from the Ciemat External Dosimetry Service participation in several environmental dosimetry intercomparisons

This paper summarises the experience gained by the Ciemat External Dosimetry Service (EDS) in the environmental dosimetry intercomparisons organised by the US Department of Energy. During the three latest intercomparisons. important dosimetry aspects such as energy calibration, energy response, dosimetric quantities and signal stability have been tested by the Ciemat EDS on up to seven different thermoluminescent (TL) materials, including hypersensitive phosphors, and employing several dosimetric systems. In last year's intercomparison, in addition to TL dosemeters the Ciemat EDS sent a set of silicon diode active dosemeters, usually used as personal dosemeters, to be tested in environmental conditions without intervention for more than 3 months. All the results obtained from different dosemeters have undergone an exhaustive analysis process in order to find some conclusions that may help to increase the knowledge of field performance of these devices in real but controlled environmental conditions.