Production and characterization of a traceable NORM material and its use in proficiency testing of gamma-ray spectrometry laboratories

H Wiedner; J Riedl; F J Maringer; A Baumgartner; M Stietka; F Kabrt

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2017.09.025

Production and characterization of a traceable NORM material and its use in proficiency testing of gamma-ray spectrometry laboratories

Appl Radiat Isot. 2018 Apr:134:45-50. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2017.09.025. Epub 2017 Sep 18.

Authors

H Wiedner¹, J Riedl², F J Maringer³, A Baumgartner⁴, M Stietka⁴, F Kabrt⁴

Affiliations

¹ BEV - Bundesamt für Eich- und Vermessungswesen, Arltgasse 35, 1160 Wien, Austria; BOKU - University for Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Straße 33, 1180 Wien, Austria. Electronic address: hannah.wiedner@bev.gv.at.
² TU Wien - Technical University of Vienna, Karlsplatz 13, 1040 Wien, Austria.
³ BEV - Bundesamt für Eich- und Vermessungswesen, Arltgasse 35, 1160 Wien, Austria; BOKU - University for Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Straße 33, 1180 Wien, Austria; TU Wien - Technical University of Vienna, Karlsplatz 13, 1040 Wien, Austria.
⁴ BOKU - University for Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Straße 33, 1180 Wien, Austria.

PMID: 29079417
DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2017.09.025

Abstract

This paper outlines the process of characterizing a new NORM material for proficiency testing made of quartz sand with significantly elevated levels of ²²⁶Ra obtained from the backflush of a drinking water treatment facility. Samples of the fully characterized NORM material were sent to European laboratories concerned with radioactivity measurements and environmental monitoring by gamma-ray spectrometry for proficiency testing. The paper discusses the results, specific requirements, problems and solutions that were found during the characterization process and the proficiency test.

Keywords: Drinking water treatment; Environmental radioactivity; Gamma-ray spectrometry; Intercomparison; Interlaboratory comparison; NORM; Natural radionuclides; Proficiency testing; Quartz sand; Reference material.