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High dose dosimetry for radiation processing: Proceedings of an international symposium, Vienna, 5–9 November, 1990
Radmt Phys Chem Vol 40, No 1, p 81, 1992 lnt J Radmt Appl lnstrum, Part C Pergamon Press Ltd Pnnted m Great Britain
BOOK REVIEW
High Dose Dosimetry for Radiation Processing: Proceedings of an International Symposium, Vienna, 5-9 November, 1990. International Atomm Energy Agency 1991
reference to most of these methods, as well to a number of new methods of potential value It also provides reformation on past experience m some countrms It should prove of considerable value to radlaUon scmnUsts but especially to compames and organtsations concerned with the large-scale utihzation of radiation While the search for improved accuracy, greater slmphaty and reduced cost must continue, one would also hope to read studms into what vartation rmght be allowed m pracuce m large-scale irra&atton processing plants m order to make the fullest pertmsslble use of the expensive radiation energy Allied to this must be research into the effective changes to be expected from rmnor differences of dose hkely to occur m practice Will a dose difference of perhaps 2 or 10% be of any major slgmficance when the radmtion effects arc produced m a series of products from somewhat &fferent sources, or intended for different consumers with vaned reqmrements or charactenstics~ Is the factor of safety m stenhzed products to be 10 -6 or 10-9, and ts tills factor often necessary~ And how do such differences compare wath those found m practice Tlus problem can acqmre greater importance as lrradmted products loom increasingly into the pubhc orbit Already we see some public reaction, often all-reformed, to the presence of trace amounts of radloactlwty and even to the use of radmtlon for the treatment of food products May we expect to see a campaign against the use of fertilizers m food production on the grounds that the K40 level m food is thereby increased, or agamst radiation as the doses used are not sufficmntly accurate~
Since the early fifties, radmtlon processing has developed rapidly m a number of directions, stenhzation of medical and pharamaceutical products, treatment of chermcal products, plastic materials for their improved physical properttes, numerous other commercial and industrial products, and especmlly food preservation, where tt has entered into the polmcal arena In all these apphcations, and wherever pubhc approval and quahty assurance are of the greatest import, accurate and rehable dostmetry plays a vttal role For mternattonal approval and trade, standardlsed techmques must be evolved The International Atomm Energy Agency held a first symposium on high dose doslmetry in 1984, since when interest m and need for the subject have greatly increased This volume presents the contributions to the Second International Symposmm, held m Vienna m November 1990 Some 41 papers are pubhshed m tMs 511 page volume and they m&cate the advances made since the earher meeting The subject matter was presented In eight sessions, the first deahng with General Aspects, mcludmg novel systems, international consensus, quality control and food processing. There followed more specific papers classified under" Developments of Doslmetry Techmques (three sessions), Reference Doslmetry and Doslmetry Techmques (one session), and Quality Control and Assurance of Doslmetry (three sessions) For most routine purposes conventional lugh dose dosimeters including calorimeters, ESR of alanme systems, hqmd soluUons (cenc) and polymenc systems are proving adequate, but there still exist needs for tmproved accuracy, ease of use, rehablhty, slmphclty and cost This volume presents an excellent summary and
Sdversprmg, Watchfield Swmdon Wdtsh~re SN6 8TF UK
81
A CHARLESBY
BOOK REVIEW
High Dose Dosimetry for Radiation Processing: Proceedings of an International Symposium, Vienna, 5-9 November, 1990. International Atomm Energy Agency 1991
reference to most of these methods, as well to a number of new methods of potential value It also provides reformation on past experience m some countrms It should prove of considerable value to radlaUon scmnUsts but especially to compames and organtsations concerned with the large-scale utihzation of radiation While the search for improved accuracy, greater slmphaty and reduced cost must continue, one would also hope to read studms into what vartation rmght be allowed m pracuce m large-scale irra&atton processing plants m order to make the fullest pertmsslble use of the expensive radiation energy Allied to this must be research into the effective changes to be expected from rmnor differences of dose hkely to occur m practice Will a dose difference of perhaps 2 or 10% be of any major slgmficance when the radmtion effects arc produced m a series of products from somewhat &fferent sources, or intended for different consumers with vaned reqmrements or charactenstics~ Is the factor of safety m stenhzed products to be 10 -6 or 10-9, and ts tills factor often necessary~ And how do such differences compare wath those found m practice Tlus problem can acqmre greater importance as lrradmted products loom increasingly into the pubhc orbit Already we see some public reaction, often all-reformed, to the presence of trace amounts of radloactlwty and even to the use of radmtlon for the treatment of food products May we expect to see a campaign against the use of fertilizers m food production on the grounds that the K40 level m food is thereby increased, or agamst radiation as the doses used are not sufficmntly accurate~
Since the early fifties, radmtlon processing has developed rapidly m a number of directions, stenhzation of medical and pharamaceutical products, treatment of chermcal products, plastic materials for their improved physical properttes, numerous other commercial and industrial products, and especmlly food preservation, where tt has entered into the polmcal arena In all these apphcations, and wherever pubhc approval and quahty assurance are of the greatest import, accurate and rehable dostmetry plays a vttal role For mternattonal approval and trade, standardlsed techmques must be evolved The International Atomm Energy Agency held a first symposium on high dose doslmetry in 1984, since when interest m and need for the subject have greatly increased This volume presents the contributions to the Second International Symposmm, held m Vienna m November 1990 Some 41 papers are pubhshed m tMs 511 page volume and they m&cate the advances made since the earher meeting The subject matter was presented In eight sessions, the first deahng with General Aspects, mcludmg novel systems, international consensus, quality control and food processing. There followed more specific papers classified under" Developments of Doslmetry Techmques (three sessions), Reference Doslmetry and Doslmetry Techmques (one session), and Quality Control and Assurance of Doslmetry (three sessions) For most routine purposes conventional lugh dose dosimeters including calorimeters, ESR of alanme systems, hqmd soluUons (cenc) and polymenc systems are proving adequate, but there still exist needs for tmproved accuracy, ease of use, rehablhty, slmphclty and cost This volume presents an excellent summary and
Sdversprmg, Watchfield Swmdon Wdtsh~re SN6 8TF UK
81
A CHARLESBY