An intercomparison exercise on technetium-99 in seaweed

Abstract

This paper reports the results of an intercomparison exercise carried out on the determination of 99Tc in Fucus vesiculosus taken from the coastline adjacent to Sellafield. This species of seaweed has a very high affinity for the radionuclide (e.g., two orders of magnitude higher than has the edible prophyra species); it presents, therefore, a potential source for a biological reference material with the highest possible specific activity. Details of the preparation and homogeneity testing before distribution of samples for analysis are described and summaries of analytical procedures used by each participants provided. The exercise was arranged by the UK Analysts' Informal Working Group and participants comprised laboratories considered to be expert in the analysis and others who were using the opportunity to demonstrate their capability to perform this type of determination.