Abstract
After exposure to 0, 0.1, or 1 R, personnel monitoring films were held for up to 17 weeks prior to development at 20° 0.5°C and a constant relative humidity of <1, 28, 52, or 98%. At 98% relative humidity, pronounced latent image fading occurred. The fading rate was greatest during the first few weeks postexposure, becoming negligible after the sixth week. The fraction of the latent image that faded as a function of time was independent of exposure. Films held as long as three months at 28 or 52% relative humidity showed no latent image fading. When maintained at <1% relative humidity, films showed a uniform linear increase in density as a function of time. This fogging was independent of previous exposure and was not attributable to background radiation. Films encased in 0.005 inch thickness of polyethylene exhibited little or no fogging or latent image fading over a three-month period. Protective packaging is suggested for film-wearing intervals >2 weeks at relative humidities outside the 35 to 70% range.