Applications of Nuclear Track Detectors in Radiation-Protection Monitoring

The present paper deals with the solid state etch-track detectors and their applications to the detection/dosimetry of neutrons, radon, and radon-decay products. Most of the scientists, actively engaged in the late 60’s and in the 70’s for monitoring the occupational neutron-exposure by etch-track detectors, became also involved in the development of personal monitors for the exposure to radon-decay products in mines. The personal dosimetry of neutrons and that of radon decay products have had a parallel history and a lot of common traits, such as the same track detectors, the same etching and counting procedures, the same scientists and/or laboratories involved. These parallel investigations have been conducive to the development of etch-track-based film-badges for the detection of the neutron fluency and the radon concentration respectively. Thanks to these parallel investigations, it was possible to demonstrate that radon may represent a strong disturbing factor for the response of neutron film-badges. In particular, it was finally possible to explain the erratic response obtained in the past with neutron film-badges, based on polycarbonate track detectors, characterized by a large radon sorption. Finally, a strategy similar to that established for neutron dosimetry has been recently proposed to solve the long-standing problem of the dosimetry of radon-decay products.