Development of two mobile laboratories for a routine and accident monitoring of internal contamination

To provide medical surveillance of workers exposed to risk of internal contamination, IRSN (French Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety) has developed two mobile laboratories for on-site monitoring. The laboratories are unique in Europe. They meet the new radiation protection requirements for nuclear medicine departments and radiological emergency response. Details of the design, calibration procedures and performance characteristics of these systems in measurements of various types of organs (thyroid, lung and whole body) are described. The sensitivity of the measurements is very close to that achieved in a heavily shielded stationary laboratory.

► We describe a new mobile truck developed for in situ monitoring of internal contamination. ► We present the technical principle of this truck. ► They can carry out in vivo measurements in different types of geometries: thyroid, lung and whole body. ► We assess the performances for the measurement of typical radionuclides and contaminations. ► Thanks to the use of specific shielding it has been shown sensitivities quite close to a heavy shielding system.