Water Radioactivity Testing

Factors affecting the quality of water environment include microbial pollution, chemical pollution and radioactive pollution, among which the level of radionuclides in water environment has become an important indicator to measure the quality of water environment. Radionuclides in the water environment can cause external exposure to human beings, and can also produce internal exposure through human intake of drinking water, aquatic organisms, or terrestrial food contaminated by irrigation, thereby causing health hazards to humans. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct radioactive detection of water quality to provide a basis for protecting the health of the population.

BOC Sciences offers total radiation water testing as a broad screen for radioactivity in water from a variety of sources. Radon, uranium, strontium, radium, and other radioactive sources emit α and β radiation particles. Our tests include: total α radiation, total β radiation.

Fig. 1 Pictorial diagram of radioactive contamination.^[1]

Detection process

Our general method is to concentrate and evaporate a sufficient volume of water to deposit radionuclides on a small amount of solid residue, then take an appropriate amount of residue and spread it evenly in the measuring pan, and place it in a low-background α and β measuring instrument for determination of total α and total β radioactivity.

• Sample Collection

Collect representative water samples under our dedicated guidance.

• Sample Testing

1) Model building

In order to ensure the counting efficiency of the measuring instrument and monitor the stability of the instrument, we will use plutonium-239 (Pu-239) and the standard source α source 241Am and β source KCL for modeling.

2) Pretreatment of water samples

Before measuring the water sample, the water sample is digested and burned. Digestion (or ashing) adopts the advanced wet digestion H₂SO₄-HNO₃ system. Then the residue after evaporation is put into the muffle furnace and burned until the residue is all white powder, then weighed for later use.

3) Water sample testing

Turn on the detection instrument, set the parameters and fill in the water sample information, click the "collect" button, the instrument will collect and calculate the activity concentration (Bq/L) of the total α and total β radionuclides in the water sample at the same time, and generate a detection report output.

Laboratory Radiation Protection Measures

In order to avoid radiation damage, our laboratory has taken various protective measures and implemented them in strict accordance with the standards.

• Formulate scientific and effective work guidance procedures;
• The office area is separated from the experimental area, and the staff wear radiation protection equipment in the experiment;
• The staff in the radiation post regularly participate in the physical examination review, and the radioactive standard materials are properly and safely kept in special counters;
• Strictly control the discharge of radioactive materials to the external environment, collect them centrally, store them in a unified manner, and make corresponding labels.

In order to ensure that the water quality meets the requirements and prevent the radioactive hazards of the over-limit water to the public, BOC Sciences provides you with expert advice on all aspects of radiation detection, and can assist you in sampling and analysis.