An Improved Method for Estimating the Dose to the Lens of the Eye Using Hp(10) and Hp(0.07) Measurements

Abstract

Recent recommendation, by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), to reduce the dose limit to the lens of the eye by almost an order of magnitude, has increased substantially the need to monitor this dose, i.e., Hp(3), with an accurate dosimeter. Since such dosimeter has not yet been validated and fully implemented, present monitoring of the dose to the lens of the eye is based on the measurement of Hp(10) and Hp(0.07) values and using conservative assumptions, which lead to an overestimate of the required dose. A new method to estimate Hp(3) using measured values of Hp(10) and Hp(0.07) has been suggested, which is more accurate and less conservative. This method could be used for routine monitoring and also in cases where there is a need to reconstruct historical doses to the lens of the eye, such as in law court claims of workers that were diagnosed with cataract.