This study presents a comprehensive regional assessment of dosimetry capabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean countries (LAC). The study was conducted using surveys coordinated, elaborated and analyzed by the steering committee of the Latin American Network for the Optimization of Occupational Radiation Protection (REPROLAM). All the work was supported by the Technical Cooperation of International Atomic Energy Agency (TC IAEA) through the RLA9088 and RLA9091 regional projects. The investigation covers five different dosimetry fields: external, internal, computational, biological, and retrospective dosimetry. Answers from participants of 16 countries were received: A total of 32 individual monitoring services for external dosimetry, 24 centers for internal dosimetry, 38 researchers for computational dosimetry, 12 biological dosimetry laboratories members of the Latin American Biological Dosimetry Network (LBDNet), and 16 retrospective dosimetry facilities. In the case of external dosimetry, an analysis of the results from 13 countries reveals that thermoluminescent dosimetry (TLD) remains the main technology for external monitoring (79% of services), with a growing adoption of optically stimulated luminescence dosimetry (OSLD) systems. Using both TLD and OSLD, over 160,000 occupationally exposed workers are monitored regionally, predominantly in medical applications (75%). Internal dosimetry services (16 direct, 15 indirect services) focus primarily on thyroid monitoring due to extensive 131 I use in nuclear medicine in the region, but the results showed a lack of homogeneity in calibration and reporting levels. Monte Carlo-based computational dosimetry employs MCNP as the preferred code (25% of users). Biological dosimetry is well-established in the region through the LBDNet, with 21 laboratories capable of performing dicentric chromosome assays for emergency triage. LBDNet demonstrated to be a robust emergency response network. Retrospective dosimetry in the region relies predominantly on luminescence techniques. While dosimetry laboratories and techniques are well established in the region, several gaps have been identified which should be addressed in further approaches. These gaps include insufficient implementation of lens of the eye dosimetry ( H p ( 3 ) ), limited neutron dosimetry capacity, poor implementation of quality management system (60% of the IMS) and insufficient ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation (70% of those implementing a QMS, i.e. 42% of the total), a lack of standardized internal dosimetry protocols in the different laboratories, and the need for organizing periodic regional intercomparison exercises, which started with the 2023 intercomparison. The results of these surveys provide a baseline for the development of dosimetry infrastructure in the region, including the support of intercomparison exercises and training initiatives to strengthen occupational radiation protection across the countries. Continued support of the IAEA and other organizations to the development of the countries is essential for optimizing radiation protection of the workers. • A regional shift from TLD to OSLD was found, providing a benchmark for technological adoption in the region. • Gaps were detected in neutron dosimetry, lens of the eye dosimetry,protocols, intercomparison exercises, or QMS. • Recommendations for harmonizing dosimetry protocols and strengthening the dosimetry networks in the region.
Mora et al. (Fri,) studied this question.