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Five-year trend of workplace ambient radiation level at the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute - Radioactive Waste Management Facility

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study evaluated five years (2020–2024) of routine workplace ambient radiation monitoring at the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute Radioactive Waste Management Facility (PNRI-RWMF) to characterize spatial and temporal variations and estimate potential annual external dose contributions. Ambient dose equivalent rates, H*(10), were monitored at seven designated locations using a calibrated Ludlum Model 26-1 survey meter. Annual distributions were evaluated using minimum, maximum, mean, standard deviation, median, quartiles, and interquartile range (IQR), while background-corrected annual external dose screening estimates incorporated representative occupancy assumptions. Greater variability was observed in operationally relevant areas, particularly the Processing Area Ground Level and Hallway to Storage in 2022. At the Processing Area Ground Level, the 2022 mean was 0.991 μSv/h, compared with a median of 0.274 μSv/h, demonstrating the influence of intermittent elevated observations on the annual mean. The highest individual measurement was 5.710 μSv/h at the same location. Annual external dose screening estimates remained below 0.100 mSv/y, with the highest estimate of 0.098 mSv/y obtained for Office 2 in 2020. Dose-rate distributions at most locations were generally narrower during 2023–2024, although no inferential temporal trend was established. The findings indicate low external radiation exposure potential under representative occupancy conditions and demonstrate the value of combining routine area monitoring with robust descriptive statistics to support radiation protection optimization, identification of changing workplace conditions, and long-term safety assessment at radioactive waste management facilities.

Source: Nuclear Engineering and Technology

DOI: 10.1016/j.net.2026.104752

Authors: Lenlen S. Desoloc, John Wilkin F. Lim, Angelo A. Panlaqui, Ronald E. Piquero, Kristine Marie R. Dean

Institutions: Department of Science and Technology, Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, Science Education Institute

Language: English

Topic: Radioactivity and Radon Measurements

Subfield: Radiation

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $200