Environmental radioactivity proficiency tests: results evaluation of gamma radiation measurements in a case of emergency and continuously activities
-
,
Abstract
A valuable tool for external quality control that provides opportunity to improve analytical skills and techniques in the field of radioactivity measurements is participation in proficiency tests (PTs). In this work obtained results from the gamma spectrometry intercomparison for 15 laboratories conducted in May 1986 immediately after the Chernobyl accident for the lucerne sample contaminated with fission products: 140Ba, 141Ce, 144Ce, 134Cs, 137Cs, 131I, 103Ru, 106Ru, 95Zr, are evaluated following the recommendations of the international standard ISO 13528:2005. Environmental radioactivity proficiency tests organized by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are designed to identify analytical problems, to help members states to maintain their accreditation and to provide knowledge and technology transfer in this area. The Analytical Laboratories for the Measurement of Environmental Radioactivity (ALMERA) is a world-wide network of analytical laboratories capable to analyzed radioactivity contents, coordinated by IAEA. Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy (INEP), University of Belgrade, is an official member since 2013. Annual PTs are organized by ALMERA for the network laboratories using sets of different samples. Based on the PT proposition each result should pass accuracy and precision test to be awarded the status ‘Accepted’, otherwise it lies on the status ‘Warning’ or ‘Not Accepted’. INEP was participated in three worldwide open (in 2006, 2007 and 2011) and six (in a period 2012–2016) PTs organized by IAEA and ALMERA. Radionuclide activity concentrations in different environmental matrices were measured using gamma-ray spectrometer with high purity germanium (HPGe) detector. In IAEA worldwide open PTs among 61 results, 74 % were ‘Accepted’ and 26 % were ‘Not Accepted’. In ALMERA network PTs among 70 results, 84.3 % were ‘Accepted’, 4.3 % were ‘Warning’, 11.4 % were ‘Not Accepted’. PT exercises are the best way to identify gaps and problems areas where further development is needed.
Acknowledgement
This work was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (Project No. III43009). The authors thank to the colleagues and all participants in the 1986 proficiency test. The authors also gratefully acknowledge efforts of the ALMERA activities for improving environmental radiation measurements.
References
1. IAEA: Measurement of Radionuclides in Food and the Environment, A Guidebook, Technical Reports Series No. 295, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria (1989).Suche in Google Scholar
2. ISO: ISO/IEC17025:2005, General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland (2005).Suche in Google Scholar
3. UNSCEAR (United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation): Report to the UN on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. United Nations Publication, New York, USA (2010).Suche in Google Scholar
4. Osvath, I., Tarjan, S., Pitois, A., Groening, M., Osborn, D.: IAEA’s ALMERA network: supporting the quality of environmental radioactivity measurements. Appl. Radiat. Isotopes 109, 90 (2016).10.1016/j.apradiso.2015.12.062Suche in Google Scholar
5. Shakhashiro, A., Mabit, L.: Results of an IAEA inter-comparison exercise to assess 137Cs and total 210Pb analytical performance in soil. Appl. Radiat. Isotopes 67, 139 (2009).10.1016/j.apradiso.2008.07.014Suche in Google Scholar
6. Ćujić, M., Dragović, S., Đorđevic, M., Dragović, R., Gajić, B., Miljanić, Š.: Radionuclides in the soil around the largest coal fired power plant in Serbia: radiological hazard, relationship with soil characteristics and spatial distribution. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 22, 10317 (2015).10.1007/s11356-014-3888-2Suche in Google Scholar
7. Jovanović, S., Dlabac, A., Mihajlović, N.: ANGLE v2.1 e new version of the computer code for semiconductor detector gamma-efficiency calculations. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A 622, 385 (2010).10.1016/j.nima.2010.02.058Suche in Google Scholar
8. Eurachem/CITAC: Quantifying uncertainties in analytical measurements. Eurachem/CITAC Guide, EURACHEM Secretariat, Berlin (2000).Suche in Google Scholar
9. IAEA: Quantifying uncertainty in nuclear analytical measurements. International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA-TECDOC_1401, Vienna, Austria (2004).Suche in Google Scholar
10. Marinkov, L., Bikit, I., Slivka, J., Čonkić, L. J.: Intercomparison of Yugoslavian γ-spectrometers. Page 137. Second conference ‘Exposure to radiation from the environment and assessment of the appropriate radiation risk’, 6–8th October 1986, Kragujevac, Serbia (in Serbian).Suche in Google Scholar
11. ISO: ISO13528:2005(E), Statistical Methods for Use in Proficiency Testing by Interlaboratory Comparisons. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland (2005).Suche in Google Scholar
12. ISO: ISO Guide 35:2006(E), Reference materials – General and Statistical Principles for Certification. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland (2006).Suche in Google Scholar
13. ISO: ISO/IEC17043:2010, Conformity assessment – General Requirements for Proficiency Testing. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland (2010).Suche in Google Scholar
14. Cutshall, N. H., Larsen, I. L., Olsen, C. R.: Direct analysis of Pb-210 in sediment samples: self-absorption corrections. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. 206, 309 (1983).10.1016/0167-5087(83)91273-5Suche in Google Scholar
15. Iurian, A. R., Cosma, C.: A practical experimental approach for the determination of gamma-emitting radionuclides in environmental samples. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A 763, 132 (2014).10.1016/j.nima.2014.06.032Suche in Google Scholar
©2020 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- Study of proton induced nuclear reactions on molybdenum: cross section measurements and theoretical calculations
- An investigation of effects of level density models and gamma ray strength functions on cross-section calculations for the production of 90Y, 153Sm, 169Er, 177Lu and 186Re therapeutic radioisotopes via (n,γ) reactions
- Chemical alteration of 238Pu-loaded borosilicate glass under saturated leaching conditions
- Identifying surface morphological characteristics to differentiate between mixtures of U3O8 synthesized from ammonium diuranate and uranyl peroxide
- Preparation, uranium (VI) absorption and reuseability of marine fungus mycelium modified by the bis-amidoxime-based groups
- Essential and trace elements status in the indigenous Ethiopian tuber crops
- Design, synthesis and characterization of hydroxyapatite-chitosan nanocomposite radiolabelled with 153Sm as radiopharmaceutical for use in radiosynovectomy
- Environmental radioactivity proficiency tests: results evaluation of gamma radiation measurements in a case of emergency and continuously activities
- Evaluation of agricultural soil radiotoxic element pollution around a lignite-burning thermal power plant
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- Study of proton induced nuclear reactions on molybdenum: cross section measurements and theoretical calculations
- An investigation of effects of level density models and gamma ray strength functions on cross-section calculations for the production of 90Y, 153Sm, 169Er, 177Lu and 186Re therapeutic radioisotopes via (n,γ) reactions
- Chemical alteration of 238Pu-loaded borosilicate glass under saturated leaching conditions
- Identifying surface morphological characteristics to differentiate between mixtures of U3O8 synthesized from ammonium diuranate and uranyl peroxide
- Preparation, uranium (VI) absorption and reuseability of marine fungus mycelium modified by the bis-amidoxime-based groups
- Essential and trace elements status in the indigenous Ethiopian tuber crops
- Design, synthesis and characterization of hydroxyapatite-chitosan nanocomposite radiolabelled with 153Sm as radiopharmaceutical for use in radiosynovectomy
- Environmental radioactivity proficiency tests: results evaluation of gamma radiation measurements in a case of emergency and continuously activities
- Evaluation of agricultural soil radiotoxic element pollution around a lignite-burning thermal power plant
