A rapid method for screening 90Sr activity in water and milk samples using Cherenkov radiation
Abstract
Strontium-90 is one of the most dangerous fission products that enter the food chain. Because of its similar chemistry to calcium, it is deposited to bones posing a high risk for human health. 90Sr is a pure ^-emitter and decays to 90Y also a /3-emitter. The fast moving electrons emitted by the 90Y decay, produce Cherenkov radiation, which can be detected by a Liquid Scintillation Counter (LSC). Water and milk samples spiked with various concentrations of 9 0Sr/90Y in equilibrium were measured in a LSC (Tricarb 3170 TR/SL). The derived efficiencies were 50% for water samples and 13 % for milk samples. The minimum detectable activities (MDA) for measuring 90Sr in water and milk samples, without any pretreatment were calculated 240 mBq/L and 1 Bq/L respectively. The intervention levels for 90Sr contamination in water and milk samples, established by the European Union are 125 Bq/L and 75-125 Bq/L depending on age, respectively. The interference of 40K, which is present in milk due to its natural potassium content,was also investigated.
Article Details
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Stamoulis, K. C., Ioannides, K. G., Karamanis, D. T., & Patiris, D. C. (2019). A rapid method for screening 90Sr activity in water and milk samples using Cherenkov radiation. HNPS Advances in Nuclear Physics, 14, 113–118. https://doi.org/10.12681/hnps.2258
- Issue
- Vol. 14 (2005): HNPS2005
- Section
- Oral contributions (deprecated)