What monitoring device provides real-time indication of gamma radiation dose rate in a work area?

• A. A portable gamma survey meter (Geiger-Müller or scintillation detector) that displays dose rate.
• B. A personal dosimeter.
• C. A moisture meter.
• D. A spectral analyzer.

Answer: (A)

Real-time ambient monitoring of gamma dose rate in a work area is provided by a portable gamma survey meter that uses a Geiger-Müller tube or a scintillation detector and displays the current dose rate. These instruments are designed to be carried or placed in the area and give an immediate readout (often in μSv/h or mSv/h), allowing you to map hotspots, assess shielding needs, and respond quickly to changes in radiation levels.

A personal dosimeter, on the other hand, records the dose accumulated by the wearer over a period (shift or longer) and is not intended to provide instantaneous ambient readings. A moisture meter measures moisture content in materials, which is unrelated to radiation. A spectral analyzer examines the energy distribution of detected radiation to identify isotopes or spectral features, but it does not, by itself, deliver a real-time ambient dose-rate readout for the area.