Ultratrace analysis of long-lived radioisotopes in the environment

Abstract

The applicability of radiometric and non‐radiometric methods for ultratrace analysis of radioisotopes in the environment is discussed. Alpha‐, β‐ and γ‐ray counting as well as mass spectrometry, inductively coupled mass spectrometry, and accelerator mass spectrometry are used for low‐level measurements of long‐lived radionuclides. Another approach is laser spectroscopy. Resonance ionization mass spectroscopy is suited for the detection of technetium and the actinide elements with a detection limit of ∼2×106 atoms. Conventional mass separation in combination with resonance ionization spectroscopy in collinear geometry enables the determination of 89Sr and 90Sr with high sensitivity and selectivity.