Abstract
The results from numerous intercomparison exercises and proficiency tests indicate that the measurement of 90Sr in solid environmental matrices poses a problem to many analysts. The causes of the observed scatter of analytical results are not well understood and therefore difficult to remedy. In order to assess the effect of various analytical operations and measurement routines on the quality of the 90Sr data, the IAEA's Analytical Control Services have organised a proficiency test using a mineral sample spiked at three different levels with known amounts of 90Sr. This proficiency test generated considerable interest from the radioanalytical community as a total of 192 sets of samples were distributed to 158 radioanalytical laboratories world-wide. The reported data were evaluated with respect to their relative bias against the reference value and with respect to their reported overall uncertainty. The major sources of bias leading to overestimated values are ineffective purification procedures, high background values and a lack of statistical control over background values. The major sources of bias leading to an underestimation are overestimated recovery factors in part due to failure to correct for stable Sr in the sample and possibly failure to correct for quenching in liquid scintillation counting. Preliminary results for a small randomly selected group of laboratories are presented.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
R. Bojanowski, K. Burns, P. Danesi, J. Moreno, Z. Radecki, Sources of Bias in Rapid Methods for 90Sr and 89Sr Assay in Environmental Samples, Intern. Conf. Rapid Radioactivity Measurements in Emergency and Routine Situations, Teddington U.K., October 15–17, 1997.
H. L. Volchok, G. De Planque, HASL-300, EML Procedures Manual, 26th ed., Environmental Measurements Laboratory, New York, USA, 1983.
H. G. Petrow, Anal. Chem., 37 (1965) No. 4.
Measurements of Radionuclides in Food and the Environment — A Guidebook, IAEA Technical Report Series No 295, Vienna, 1989, p. 70-91 and references therein.
M. Senegacnik, S. Paljk, Z. Anal. Chem., 224 (1969) 306.
K. Juznic, S. Fedsina, J. Environ. Radiochem., 37 (1987) 172.
E. P. Horwitz, M. L. Dietz, D. E. Fisher, Anal. Chem., 63 (1991) 522.
M. Pimpl, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., 194 (1992) 311.
Messanleitungen für die Überwachung der Radioaktivität in der Umwelt, BMU, Bundesumweltministerium, Referat Öffentlichkeitsarbeit, Alexanderplatz 6, 10178 Berlin, Germany.
Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 15th ed., American Public Health Association, 1015, 15th Street N.W., Washington D.C. 2005, USA.
Separacion y Purificacion Radioquimica del Estroncio Radioactivo, Ponencia en la XIII Reunion de la S.N.E., Espagna, 1987.
J. Suomela, L. Wallberg, J. Melin, Methods for Determination of 90Sr in Food and Environmental Samples by Cerenkov Counting, SSI Report 93-11, Sweden, 1993.
P. De Regge, A. Fajgelj, The IAEA Guide on Quantifying Uncertainty in Nuclear Analytical Measurements, EURACHEM-IAEA Workshop on Efficient Methodology for the Evaluation of Uncertainty in Analytical Chemistry, Helsinki, June 13–15, 1999.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
De Regge, P., Radecki, Z., Moreno, J. et al. The IAEA Proficiency Test on Evaluation of Methods for 90Sr Measurement in a Mineral Matrix; Preliminary Evaluation of Sources of Bias and Measurement Uncertainties. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 246, 511–519 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006772402444
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006772402444