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Publisher Summary On-board personal dose measurements are mainly based on thermoluminescent dosimetry. Because of the large dimensions and big mass of the readers, the TLDs used in space activities are generally evaluated only after their return to the ground, in terrestrial laboratories. The disadvantage of on-ground evaluation is that it results in the dose accumulated since the last read-out, that is, the dose of the whole flight, whereas with the increased duration of space flights periodic and relatively frequent dose measurements would be needed. A small, portable, and space-qualified TLD reader suitable for reading out the TL dosimeters on board provides the possibility of overcoming the above-mentioned disadvantage. Such a system offers a solution for EVA dosimetry as well. KFKI Atomic Energy Research Institute (KFKI AEKI) has developed and manufactured a series of thermoluminescent dosimeter systems for measuring cosmic radiation doses in the 10 μGy to 10 Gy range, consisting of a set of bulb dosimeters and a small, compact, TLD reader suitable for on-board evaluation of the dosimeters. By means of such a system, highly accurate measurements were carried out on board the Salyut-6, -7 and Mir Space Stations as well as on the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station (ISS). A detailed description of the system is given and the comprehensive results of these measurements are summarized in this chapter.

Radioactive clouds from the atmospheric release due to the reactor accident at Chernobyl reached Hungary on April 29, 1986. During the ten days of these clouds streaming in, the radioactive concentration was highest in the first day in the northern/north-western parts of the country, and later in the southern/south-eastern regions. Considerable rainfall differences between different locations resulted in a large variation in the ground surface contamination. Accordingly, there is a variation of about one order of magnitude in external dose, and in the radioactive contamination of foodstuffs and water. A survey is given on the main results of environmental monitoring carried out in Hungary since April 29, 1986. The effects of interaction of the radioactive contamination with the human organism are also discussed. The Budapest region was subjected to the most detailed examinations according to which the median effective dose equivalent of adults in the first year after the Chernobyl accident was 105 μSv; 5% of the population was exposed to less than 64 μSv, and 95% to less than 174 μSv.