NMS Thermoluminescent Dosimetry Data Dictionary

Air Kerma (Kinetic Energy Released in Matter)
Air Kerma refers to the total radiation dose from all external gamma emitting sources. It reflects the energy deposited in air, defined as the sum of kinetic energy of all particles per unit area, as a result of incident gamma radiation.  The unit for Air Kerma are J/Kg, which is equivalent to the Gray (Gy)

Location
The TLD stations are located across Canada.  There are 29 locations, including several stations around nuclear reactors.

Monitor
The monitor TLD is shipped from RPB to each station across Canada.  The TLD records the external radiation dose at the station.

nGy
Nanogray (nGy) is the International System unit for absorbed dose due to ionizing radiation.  It refers to the amount of energy deposited in a medium by the radiation.

TLD
Thermoluminescent dosimeter.  The TLDs consist of two small chips made of lithium fluoride and cesium fluoride, respectively, that are contained in a plastic case.  The TLDs record the external gamma radiation dose in the field and are sent back to RPB for analysis.

Transit
The transit is a TLD that is shipped along with the monitor TLD.  The transit TLD can be used to determine if any large radiation doses were acquired during shipping.



References
Environmental Radioactivity in Canada 1997-2009.  2013, Radiation Surveillance Division, Health Canada: Ottawa, Ontario
Health Canada.  Canadian Radiological Monitoring Network.  [Cited 2014-01-08].  Available from:  http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/contaminants/radiation/crmn-rcsr/index-eng.php