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Activity of Water and Sludge Samples. the Determination of Radon-222 and Radium-226

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Activity of Water and Sludge Samples. the Determination of Radon-222 and Radium-226 Measurement of Alpha and Beta Activity of Water and Sludge Samples. The Determination of Radon-222 and Radium-226. The Determination of Uranium (including General X-ray Fluorescent Spectrometric Analysis) 1985-1986 Methods for the Examination of Waters and Associated Materials London Her Majesty's Stationery Office £7.00 net r This document contains L 78 pages Measurement of Alpha and Beta Activity in Water and Sludge Samples. The Determination of Radon-222 and Radium-226. The Determination of Uranium (including General X-ray Fluorescent Spectrometric Analysis) 1985—1986. Methods for the Examination of Waters and Associated Materials Contents About this Series 3 AlO. Quality Control 24 Warning to Users 4 All. Regulations Covering the Use of Note on the SI Units for the Radioactive Materials 24 Measurement of Radiation 5 B. Measurementof Beta Activity 25 The Measurement of Radioactivity BI. Performance Characteristics of in Water 6 the Method 25 B2. 26 1. Introduction 6 Principle B3. Hazards 26 2. and its Measurement 6 Radioactivity B4. Reagents 26 2.1 The determination of Individual B5. Radionuclides Apparatus 27 B6. Collection 27 2.2 The determination of 8 Sample Beta-Activity B7. Procedure 2.3 The determination of Analytical 28 Alpha-Activity B8. Precision of 31 2.4 The determination of Gamma-Activity Counting B9. Sources of Error 31 3. Guideline Values and Regulations, B10. Control 32 Action Levels 10 Quality Bli. the Use of 3.1 Action in the Event of Lifetime Values Regulations Covering Radioactive Materials 32 Exceeded 11 being C. Gross Gamma MeasurementMethod Radiochemical Decay Series 12 for Screening Samples for Radon in Data on of the Some Principal Natural Water (Tentative) 33 Radio Isotopes 14 Co. Introduction 33 A. Measurementof Alpha Activity Cl. Performance Characteristics of in Non-saline Water Using a Thick the Method 33 Source Method (Tentative Method) 17 C2. Principle 35 Al. Performance Characteristics 17 C3. Interferences 35 A2. Principle 18 C4. Hazards 35 A3. Hazards 18 CS. Reagents 35 A4. Reagents 18 C6. Apparatus 35 AS. Apparatus 19 C7. Sampling Procedure 35 A6. Sample Collection 19 C8. Analytical Procedure 36 A7. Analytical Procedure 19 C9. Calculation of Radon-222 Activity 36 A8. Precision of Counting 23 ClO. Calibration against other Methods 37 A9. Sources of Error 23 Cll. Instrumental Stability Control 37 D Determination of Radon and Fl. Principle 64 Radium (Tentative Method) 38 F2. Limit of Detection 64 DO. Introduction 38 F3. Essentials of the Methods 64 Dl. Performance Characteristics of Determinationof Tritium the Method 38 (Tentative Note) 65 D2. Refs 44 Principle (see 46—50) of Saline and other Mineralized D3. Interferences Analysis D4. Hazards Waters (Tentative Note) 66 D5. Reagents 44 Screening of Sludges, Sediments and Similar D6. Apparatus 45 Solids for Alpha and Beta D7. Sampling Procedure 45 Radioactivity 67 D8. Analytical Procedure 46 References 73 of the Radon and D9. Calculation with Radium Content 50 Members of the Committee helping this booklet 76 DlO. Apparatus cleaning Dli. Excess of Radon over Radium 53 For informationon the use of Gamma Ray Spectrometry D12. Units of Measurement 53 see Section 2.4 and references therein. D13. Radon in Air 53 For information on the determinationof specificelements and consult the literature. See . isotopes specialist Determination of Uranium 54 section 2. Introduction 54 Tables U X-Ray Fluorescence Measurement Units used 5 1 to 4 Radiochemical Series 12—13 Ui. Principle Decay 5 of the U2. Interferences Data on some Principal 14 U3. Performance Characteristics 55 Radio Isotopes 6 Wavelengths of the strongest fluorescent U4. Reagents 56 lines 58 US. 56 X-ray by wavelength Apparatus fluorescent U6. Procedure 56 6A Wavelengths of the strongest lines 2 0 61 U7. Quantificationof other Elements 58 X-ray by angle U8. Analysis of Solid Samples 58 Figures Apparatus for Radon Analysis 41 F UV-visible Fluorescence Measurement 2 Apparatus for Radon Analysis 42 (Tentative Note) 64 3 Apparatus for Radon Analysis 43 London Her Majesty's Stationery Office Note: This booklet was approved by the Main Committee of the Standing Committee of Analysts in 1985. It has been completely rechecked and minor additions made in the light of 1986 experiencein monitoringthe effects of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station incident. 2 About This Series This booklet is part of a seriesintended to provide both The preparation ofthis series and its continuous revision recommended methods for the determination of water is the responsibility of the Standing Committee of quality, and in addition, short reviews of the more Analysts (to review Standard Methods for Quality important analytical techniques of interest to the water Control of the Water Cycle). The Standing Committee and sewage industries. of Analysts is a committee of the Department of the Environment set in 1972. it has seven In the past, the Department of the Environment and its up Currently in collaboration with various learned Working Groups, each responsible for one section or predecessors, of water are as follows: societies, have issuedvolumes of methods for the analysis aspect cycle quality analysis. They of water and sewage culminating in 'Analysis of Raw, 1.0 General principles of sampling and accuracy Potable and Waste Waters'. These volumes inevitably of results took some years to prepare, so that they were often 3.0 Empirical and physical methods partially out of date before they appeared in print. The 4.0 Metals and metalloids present series will be published as series of booklets on 5.0 General nonmetallic substances singleor related topics; thus allowingfor the replacement 6.0 Organic impurities or addition of methods as quickly as possible without 7.0 Biological methods need of waiting for the next edition. The rate of 9.0 Radiochemical methods will also be related to the of publication urgency The actual methods and reviews are smaller requirementfor that particularmethod, tentativemethods produced by panels of experts in the appropriate field, under the and notes being issued when necessary. overall supervisionof the appropriate workinggroup and The aim is to provide as complete and up to date a the main committee. collection of methods and reviews as is which practicable, The namesof those associatedwith this method are listed will, as far as possible, take into account the analytical facilitiesavailable in inside the back cover. Publication of new or revised different parts of the Kingdom, and methods will be the criteria of interest to those forthe notified to the technical press, whilst a quality responsible list of Methods in Print is in the various of the water Because both needs given current HMSO aspects cycle. Sectional Publication List No. 5. and equipment varywidely, where necessary, a selection of methods may be recommended for a single deter- Whilst an effort is made to prevent errors from occurring minand. It will be the responsibility of the users— in the published text, a few errors have been found in the senior technical staff to decide which of these booklets in this series. Correction notes and minor methods to use for the determination in hand. Whilst additions to published booklets not warranting a new the attentionof the user is drawn to any special known booklet in this series will be issued periodicallyas the need hazards which may occur with the use ofany particular arises. Should an error be foundaffecting the operation method, responsibility for proper supervision and the of amethod, the true sense not being obvious, or an error provision of safe working conditions must remain with in the printed text be discoveredprior to sale, a separate the user. correctionnote will beissued for inclusionin that booklet. L R PITTWELL Secretary 1 July 1986 3 Warning To Users The analytical procedures given in this booklet should always be stored in plain sight and below face level. only be carried out by competent trained persons, with Attention should also be given to potential vapour adequate supervision when necessary. and fire risks. If in doubt, it is safer to assume that the hazard may exist and take reasonable precautions, Local Safety Regulations must be observed. rather than to assume that no hazard existsuntil proved Laboratory procedures should be carried out only in otherwise. properly equipped laboratories. There are numerous handbooks on first aid and such are: 'Guide Field Operations should be conducted with due regard laboratory safety. Among publications local and to Safe Practices in ChemicalLaboratories' and 'Hazards to possible hazards, portable safety equipment of should be carried. in the Chemical Laboratory' issued by the Royal Society Chemistry, London; 'Safety in Biological Laboratories' Care should be taken against creating hazards for one's (Editors, Hartree and Booth),Biochemical Society Special self, one's colleagues, those outside the laboratoryor Publication No. 5, The Biochemical Society, London, work place, or subsequently for maintenance or waste which includes biological hazards; and 'The Prevention disposalworkers. Where the Committee have considered of Laboratory Acquired Infection', Public Health that a special unusual hazard exists, attention has been Laboratory Service Monograph 6, HMSO, London. drawn to this in the text so that additional care might cannot first taken that which should be exercised at all It be too strongly emphasized that prompt be beyond or administration of the correct times when out analytical procedures. Reagents aid, decontamination,
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