Mission

To perform research and development, and to offer services in the areas of radiation dosimetry, calibration of instruments, radioecology and environmental radioprotection.

The Radiation Metrology Center was established in October 2002, from two departments of the Radiological Safety Directory, and it is formed by two Divisions: ”Environmental Radiometry” and “Calibration & Dosimetry”. They are responsible for several services offered to IPEN and to external institutions: radiometric analyses, individual radiation dosimetry, high-dose dosimetry, calibration of radiation detectors, etc. Dosimetric material (CaSO4:Dy pellets) is produced on a regular basis, and about 20,000 thermoluminescent dosimeters are sold per year mainly to Brazilian private individual monitoring services.

All activities performed at the Center are related to the development, improvement and establishment of new methodologies or products in radiation metrology, with the aim of assuring the safety of IPEN workers and environment. The routine and R&D activities are performed by 43 permanent staff members and by 46 undergraduate and graduate students. The Center offers yearly 7 courses in the Nuclear Technology Graduation Program of IPEN.

The Environmental Radiometric Laboratory is responsible for the evaluation of the environmental radiological impact of the nuclear and radioactive installations available at IPEN. The evaluation is carried out by measuring the radioactivity levels of the liquid and gaseous effluents discharged to the environment on a routine basis (source term), as well as environmental samples in the surrounding area. The main aim of this Environmental Radiological Monitoring Program is: to evaluate the doses to the public due to the operation of all facilities available; to show compliance with the dose limits adopted; to assess the effectiveness of the discharge control; and to detect any non-planned release (above the pre-selected operational limits). The radiation levels for 2002, 2003 and 2004 are below the environmental background levels, attesting that the control of the radioactive effluents discharges is effective, as shown by the source-term values and that there is no radiological impact in the environment around the IPEN facilities.

Linda V.E. Caldas
Manager

R&D activities

• Characterization of stockpiled phosphogypsum in Brazil and evaluation of its environmental impact
• Distribution of natural radionuclides, rare earth and trace elements in the
  production and use of phosphate fertilizers in Brazil
• Dosimetric materials and methods
• Dosimetry of radon with nuclear track detectors
• Major and trace element records at Viração Lagoon sediments, Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil, dated by Pb-210
• Methods for radiotoxicological analysis
• Methods in internal dose calculation
• Metrology in diagnostic radiology
• Methods in thermoluminescence dosimetry
• Theoretical calibration of gamma spectrometers using Monte Carlo method
• Radiation metrology and reference systems
• Radioactivity measurements in natural and treated waters
• Use of sequential extraction to determine the speciation of Ra-226, Pb-210, rare earth and trace elements in phosphogypsum

Products and Services

• Calibration of radiation monitors and dosemeters
• Determination of radionuclides in environmental samples
• Dosimetric pellets of CaSO4:Dy
• Gamma ray spectrometry
• Environmental radiological monitoring program at IPEN facilities
• In vitro occupational monitoring
• Internal dose calculation
• Thermoluminescence dosimetry
  
  
  
  
• Publication list