title: Study of particular problems appearing in NORM samples and recommendations for best practice gamma-ray spectrometry.
abstract: In this paper spectral interference effects for selected gamma-emitting radionuclides of the natural decay series and40K in selected NORM samples are studied. Recommendations for the choice of γ-lines and the consideration of possible spectral interferences are provided. Special attention is given to the radon tightness of the sample containers. A simple and sensitive method for the estimation of the222Rn leakage of sample containers is introduced. The applied polystyrene sample containers show222Rn leakages lower than 1%.
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Prueflabor fuer Umweltradioaktivitaet und Strahlenschutz, Low-Level Counting Laboratory Arsenal, Arsenal 214, A-1030 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: a.baumgartner@boku.ac.at.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baumgartner
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Prueflabor fuer Umweltradioaktivitaet und Strahlenschutz, Low-Level Counting Laboratory Arsenal, Arsenal 214, A-1030 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stietka
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Prueflabor fuer Umweltradioaktivitaet und Strahlenschutz, Low-Level Counting Laboratory Arsenal, Arsenal 214, A-1030 Vienna, Austria; BEV - Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying, Arltgasse 35, A-1160 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kabrt
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Prueflabor fuer Umweltradioaktivitaet und Strahlenschutz, Low-Level Counting Laboratory Arsenal, Arsenal 214, A-1030 Vienna, Austria; BEV - Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying, Arltgasse 35, A-1160 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wiedner
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Prueflabor fuer Umweltradioaktivitaet und Strahlenschutz, Low-Level Counting Laboratory Arsenal, Arsenal 214, A-1030 Vienna, Austria; BEV - Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying, Arltgasse 35, A-1160 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Franz Josef
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Maringer
keywords: Gamma-ray spectrometry; NORM; Radon tightness; Spectral interference