Storage Conditions of Textile Dosimeters for 2D UV Dose Measurements

This paper presents the optimization of storage conditions for textile dosimeters for ultraviolet radiation measurements, which are based on cotton-woven fabric and nitroblue tetrazolium chloride (NBT) as a radiation-sensitive compound. The results of changes in light reflectance and color coordinates depending on the storage time of the samples over six months from their manufacturing under various storage conditions are presented. The results obtained for cotton-NBT dosimeters, unirradiated and irradiated with a UVC dose of 100 mJ/cm², stored under the following conditions were compared: (i) at room temperature (23-25 °C, humidity 40-60%), without access to light; (ii) in a fridge (3-5 °C, humidity 70-90%), without access to light; (iii) in a freezer (-17 to -20 °C, humidity 80-90%), without access to light; and (iv) at room temperature (23-25 °C, humidity 40-60%), with access to light. Additionally, it was presented that the cotton-NBT dosimeters were suitable for 2D measurement of UV radiation doses after a period of eight months. The obtained results complement previous studies on cotton-NBT textile dosimeters and are crucial for determining the conditions of use and the expiry date of such systems.