title: Critical remarks on gross alpha/beta activity analysis in drinking waters: conclusions from a European interlaboratory comparison.
abstract: The most common gross alpha/beta standard methods used for drinking water analysis are discussed, and sources of interferences are reviewed from a metrological point of view. Our study reveals serious drawbacks of gross methods on the basis of an interlaboratory comparison analyzing commercial mineral water samples with the participation of 71 laboratories. A proposal is made to obtain comparable measurement results using true standardized methods.
authors.affiliation: European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, Retieseweg 111, B-2440 Geel, Belgium. Electronic address: viktor.jobbagy@mail.com.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jobbágy
authors.affiliation: European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, Retieseweg 111, B-2440 Geel, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Merešová
authors.affiliation: European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, Retieseweg 111, B-2440 Geel, Belgium.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wätjen
keywords: Drinking water; Gross alpha/beta activity; Interlaboratory comparison; Limits of gross methods; Radioactivity