Radioactivity in environmental samples: Calibration standards measurement methods, quality assurance, and data analysis

Abstract

The numerous environmental radioactivity measurements made by and for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) include measurements on samples of water, urine, food, milk, and air filters. Calibration standards are listed which are available in the form of water solutions and soils for a wide range of radionuclides. Method validation procedures for U.S. EPA approval include protocol development and single-laboratory and multiple-laboratory evaluation for precision and accuracy. Interlaboratory comparison studies are conducted for both cross-check and performance evaluation samples and involve 295 federal, state, and local laboratories. For water samples, 80%–90% of the participating laboratories are within the control limits for most of the radionuclides measured; however, some problem areas exist, especially for radium-228 and strontium-89 and -90. For milk and food samples, more than 90% of the laboratories are within control limits for cobalt-60 and cesium-137 but some problems exist for the measurement of strontium-90, iodine-131, and potassium-40. For tritium, 91% of the laboratories are within the control limit for water samples and 87% are within the control limits for the urine samples. The laboratory performance for air filter samples shows some problems for gross beta, strontium-90 and cesium-137 measurements.