what is this?

[venero]

I was looking at a picture of a solider geting ready for departure to Afganistan, and I noticed something around his neck next to his dog tags. Does any one have any idea what this is?
Picture here

 

[MJP]

It is a Thermoluminescent Dosimeter.

The TLD is a non-alarming, passive instrument used for measuring total whole body accumulated gamma radiation dose exposure for an individual.
When the TLD is exposed to ionizing radiation, it stores energy proportional to the amount of radiation to which it has been exposed. Later when the TLD is read, the radiation dose estimate is recorded and placed on the DND National Database. the TLD contains no user serviceable parts and must not be opened.
TLD Issue and Control
The TLD is issued to an individual and tracked using theindividual's Service Number (SN). At the end of a specific time period, for example the completion of an operational deployment, the TLD must be returned through the unit to the issuing authority for reading. The TLD will be read by
Health Canada National Dosimetry Services in Ottawa and an exposure report produced and a copy forwarded to DND. Once the TLD is read and the results are recorded, the TLD is available for reuse in future operational deployments.
Background Ionizing Radiation exists everywhere in the world caused by natural sources such as cosmic rays from the sun. After the TLD is read and zeroed it begins recording radiation
immediately. Therefore, it is important to issue the TLDs to the individuals as soon as possible after they are received from Health Canada and to return them as soon as possible for reading at the end of operations. Control TLDs are used by Health Canada to measure the Background Radiation in the area of operations. These control
TLDs are placed in areas where multiple TLDs have been issued i.e. different camps throughout Bosnia. They are not issued to an individual but to an area and stored in a central location such as unit stores, away from all radioactive sources.
These TLDs must be returned for reading at the same time as the areas TLDs are returned.

 

[Michael Dorosh]

Wouldn‘t a nice sunblock be easier to use?

 

[Infanteer]

I just left that thing in my drawer the entire tour.

 

[clasper]

Actually a TLD badge measures not only gamma radiation exposure, but alpha, beta, and neutron as well. Gamma rays are just the most common radiation type in the background, and (hopefully) all that a soldier will be exposed to on tour.

 

[babicma]

I dont think its a good idea to "leave it in you drawer" while on tour. I think that if the Canadian peacekeepers that served Croatia, Bosnia Kosovo or the American soldiers who have "Gulf War Syndrome" would not be fighting their respective governments for compensation if they had proof that they were exposed to radiation from DU rounds.

 

[clasper]

TLD badges will do very little to detect DU exposure, whether in a drawer, or worn properly. Depleted uranium is 40% less radioactive than naturally occuring uranium, and the radiation exposure is very small. The danger of DU comes from ingestion (similar to lead poisoning, but worse), and radiation exposure of the internal tissues after ingestion (which a TLD can‘t measure). DU rounds, upon impacting their target, can partially vapourize, allowing small amounts of uranium to be breathed in. For more info, see:

http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/faq_17apr.htm

That being said, if a TLD badge was issued to you, sticking it in a drawer isn‘t the best idea. The military is trying to evaluate a risk to our soldiers (and you personally), and if it is not worn properly, the risk analysis can be skewed in an unfortunate "zero risk" direction.

 

[babicma]

I guess for the your sake and the sake of other CF members its a good thing to have and to have recorded.