The CO 2 − radical ion, detected by ESR technique in bones and teeth enamel, was proved to be invaluable in high level and retrospective dosimetry. In these matrices, impurity carbonate (at phosphate sites) was the precursor to CO 2 − With a view to investigate the possibility of using inorganic materials such as lithium carbonate as ESR dosimeters, studies were carried out on gamma-irradiated Li 2CO 3 . The intensity of radiation-induced ESR signals of Li 2CO 3 at g=2.0036 (CO 3 −) and g=2.0006 (CO 2 −) was followed as a function of gamma dose in the low dose range of 1– 1350 Gy. It was observed that the intensity of the ESR signal at g=2.0036 (CO 3 −) was in a linear relation with the radiation dose in the dose range 10– 800 Gy and the signal at g=2.0006 (CO 2 −) showed linear response in the dose range 5– 800 Gy. The lowest dose that could be detected in the present studies using the signal of CO 2 − in Li 2CO 3 powder samples (∼50 mg) is 3.2 Gy. ESR studies were also carried out on the widely used TL dosimetric material CaSO 4 : Dy and in pure CaSO 4 after gamma irradiation. The TL materials were used in powder as well as pellet forms. The linearity of ESR response with dose for powder and pellet forms of CaSO 4 : Dy was also studied using the signals at g=2.0030 (SO 3 −) and at g=2.0139 (SO 4 −). It was observed that the range of linearity of dose response extended between 20 and 1200 Gy, for SO 3 − signals. The results of dosimetric study indicate that the ESR–Li 2CO 3 system could be used in dosimetric applications in radiotherapy. However, for the actual applications further advancement is needed to lower the detection limit. The TL phosphor, CaSO 4 : Dy in powder and pellet forms, could be used as ESR dosimeter in the dose range 20–600 Gy.