| As jet aircrew are routinely exposed to levels of natural background radiation (i.e., cosmic radiation) which are higher than those at ground level, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recently recommended that aircrew be classified as occupationally exposed. In order to assess aircrew exposure to the higher natural radiation levels at jet altitudes, there exists an important requirement either to monitor or predict the radiation dose received by aircrew worldwide.;Three options for determining the accumulated dose for aircrew are: (i) to monitor aircrew personnel by conventional dosimetry for all flights, (ii) use a predictive software tool for the estimation of flight dose, or (iii) employ a combination of both of these approaches. The first option is both expensive and difficult to manage, therefore, this thesis describes the collection of data and the development and validation of an experimentally-based predictive software package (PC-AIRE) enhanced by a recommended continuing data collection program. (Abstract shortened by UMI.). |
