IONIZING  RADIATION  METROLOGY

National reference that promotes reliability in measurements and standards related radiation

Ensuring the use of radiation in Brazil

The metrological area of the IRD aims to provide Brazilian society reliability, universality and quality of measurements and standards, with applications involving the use of ionizing radiation such as the medical, environmental, industrial areas and scientific research areas.

IRD is home to the laboratory designated by INMETRO, as the Brazilian reference

in the field, the National Metrology Laboratory of Ionizing Radiation (LNMRI).

LNMRI acts through the standardization, conservation and dissemination

of ionizing radiation quantities in Brazil, which are applied in occupational and environmental radioprotection, nuclear safety, radiodiagnostic, radiotherapy and nuclear medicine.

As a reference in ionizing radiation metrology, LNMRI represents the country in

international consultant committees.

In addition, its main role is to promote and participate in inter-laboratory

comparisons in collaboration with International Bureau of Weights

and Measures (BIPM), the Inter-American Metrology System (SIM) and the

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Moreover, LNMRI is an important training center of professionals

who work with ionizing radiation, not only in Brazil but also for Latin America.

The commitment of all highly trained professionals is aimed at strengthening

the national metrology structure in pursuit of the country's autonomy in this area.

TECHNICAL  SERVICES  PROVIDED  BY  LNMRI

RADIATION  DOSIMETRY

Calibration of reference standards for laboratories participating in the Brazilian Network of Metrology;

Calibration of clinical dosimeters used in radiotherapy;

Calibration of area and contamination monitors used in radiological protection;

Calibration of dosimeters applied in quality control of diagnostic radiology equipment – mammography units, CT scanners and X-ray machines;

Irradiation of personal dosimeters used in individual monitoring of workers;

Development of new systems for calibration of detectors;

Primary standardization in the air kerma quantity.

NEUTRON  METROLOGY

Calibration of neutron sources;

Calibration of individual and area monitors in neutron beams;

Irradiation of individual monitors and samples.

RADIONUCLIDE  METROLOGY

Supply  of  certified  radioactive  sources;

Primary standardization of radionuclides – coincidence  counting, anti-coincidence and liquid  scintillation  techniques;

Secondary standardization with gas-ionization chambers, and alpha-, X- and gamma-spectrometry;

Production  of  samples  of  reference  materials from  natural  matrices;

Proficiency essay for measurement of radionuclides used in Brazilian nuclear medicine services  and  environmental  analysis laboratories.

( LNMRI participates since 1976 in the network of Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory (SSDL), coordinated by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

and World Health Organization (WHO).

Its quality management system was approved by the Inter-American Metrology System (SIM) in 2004 according to the requirements of NBR / ISO / IEC 17025.)