Determination of uranium isotopes in food and environmental samples by different techniques: a comparison.
The uranium concentration in 59 samples of bottled and tap water, mainly from northern Italy, was measured by different techniques. Results obtained by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), semiconductor alpha spectrometry and low level liquid scintillation counting with alpha/beta discrimination (LSC) have been compared. High resolution gamma spectrometry and semiconductor alpha spectrometry have been used to analyse uranium in a variety of organic and inorganic samples. Isotopic secular equilibrium in the 238U series may be lacking or hidden by auto-absorption phenomena, so caution should be used in evaluating gamma spectrometry data. Alpha spectrometry has also been used to ascertain the possible pollution from depleted uranium in the environment.
Forte
M
M
ARPA Lombardia, Division of Radiological Protection Milan, Italy.
Rusconi
R
R
Margini
C
C
Abbate
G
G
Maltese
S
S
Badalamenti
P
P
Bellinzona
S
S
D005507:Food Contamination, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007554:Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D007558:Italy; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012588:Scintillation Counting; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D014501:Uranium / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis*
D007554:Isotopes; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D014501:Uranium