In cooperation with the Iranian Nuclear Society

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Abstract

Different researches have been performed on natural exposure of cosmic rays and their effects on the human health. Monitoring of cosmic derived gamma ray exposure of aircrews and passengers is the subject of the current study. In this paper, the controlable variations of the cosmic ray flux in the atmosphere and the cosmic radiation exposure at flight altitudes will be discussed. For this study, the exposure rates to gamma ray, in an energy range of 50keV-1.5MeV, for the Tehran-Bandarabbas air flights have been measured. The results show that the maximum dose rate at 3000ft (about 9km) is 15-20 times higher than on the ground base. Also, the dose rate for this pathway is about 1.87μSv/h which for 500 hours flights per year it is estimatal to be 935μSv. This number is less than human permissible dose rate of 1mSv/year.

Highlights

 

  1. G. Reitz, “Radiation environment in the stratosphere,” Radiat. Protect. Dos. 48(1), 5-20 (1993).

     

  2. O. Brien, K. Friedberg, W. Duke, F.E. Snyder, L. Darden Jr, E.B. Sauer, H.H., “The exposure of aircraft crews to radiations of extraterrestrial origin,” Radiat. Protec. Dos. 45(1-4), 145-162 (1992).

 

  1. P. Lantos, “The sun and its effects on the terrestrial environment,” Radiat. Protec. Dos. 48(1), 27-32 (1993).

 

  1. M.K. Lim, “Cosmic rays: are air crew at risk?,” Occup. Environ. Med. 59, 428-433 (2002).

 

  1. F. Spurny, T.S. Dachev, “Long-term monitoring of the onboard aircraft exposure level with a Si-diode bsed spectrometer,” Adv. Space. Res. 32(1), 53-58 (2003).

 

  1. S. Mohler, “Galactic radiation exposure during commercial flights: Is there a risk?,” Canadian. Med. Associat. J. 168, 1157-1158 (2003).

 

  1. K.B. Shaw, “Radiation exposure and high- altitude flight,” J. Radiol. Prot. 16(2), 987-991 (1996).

Keywords

  1.  

    1. G. Reitz, “Radiation environment in the stratosphere,” Radiat. Protect. Dos. 48(1), 5-20 (1993).

       

    2. O. Brien, K. Friedberg, W. Duke, F.E. Snyder, L. Darden Jr, E.B. Sauer, H.H., “The exposure of aircraft crews to radiations of extraterrestrial origin,” Radiat. Protec. Dos. 45(1-4), 145-162 (1992).

     

    1. P. Lantos, “The sun and its effects on the terrestrial environment,” Radiat. Protec. Dos. 48(1), 27-32 (1993).

     

    1. M.K. Lim, “Cosmic rays: are air crew at risk?,” Occup. Environ. Med. 59, 428-433 (2002).

     

    1. F. Spurny, T.S. Dachev, “Long-term monitoring of the onboard aircraft exposure level with a Si-diode bsed spectrometer,” Adv. Space. Res. 32(1), 53-58 (2003).

     

    1. S. Mohler, “Galactic radiation exposure during commercial flights: Is there a risk?,” Canadian. Med. Associat. J. 168, 1157-1158 (2003).

     

    1. K.B. Shaw, “Radiation exposure and high- altitude flight,” J. Radiol. Prot. 16(2), 987-991 (1996).