Analysis of the 2023 national interlaboratory comparison for measurement of gross α and gross β radioactivity in water
10.13491/j.issn.1004-714X.2025.02.016
- VernacularTitle:2023年度全国水中总α和总β放射性测量能力比对结果分析
- Author:
Liangliang YIN
1
;
Yuhan XIE
1
;
Yuxin QIAN
1
;
Cen SHI
1
;
Yanqin JI
1
Author Information
1. Key Laboratory of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Emergency, China CDC, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100088 China.
- Publication Type:OriginalArticles
- Keywords:
Water;
Gross α radioactivity;
Gross β radioactivity;
Interlaboratory comparison
- From:
Chinese Journal of Radiological Health
2025;34(2):237-241
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To organize a nationwide interlaboratory comparison for measurement of gross α and gross β radioactivity in water, and improve the laboratory analysis of gross α and gross β radioactivity in water. Methods A unified comparison protocol was developed by the organizers. The groundwater with high natural radioactivity was used as water sample and distributed randomly to the participating laboratories. The participating laboratories used routine analytical methods to measure the samples and provided information such as analytical results, original records, and test reports. The results were evaluated using z-score. Results A total of 76 laboratories participated in the comparison, all employing the evaporation concentration-α/β counting method. Among them, 69 laboratories achieved |z| ≤ 2 for both gross α and gross β radioactivity measurements, and 32 laboratories achieved |z| ≤ 0.50 for both gross α and gross β radioactivity measurements. There were 69 laboratories with qualified results and 30 laboratories with excellent results, yielding a qualified rate of 90.8% and an excellent rate of 39.5%. Seven laboratories showed unqualified results and the unqualified rate was 9.2%. Conclusion Most laboratories have the ability to analyze gross α and gross β radioactivity in water. The main reasons for the deviation in comparison results are calibration efficiency, errors in the total residue mass caused by improper water sample processing operations. By analyzing the main technical problems existed in unqualified laboratories, their ability for measurement of gross α and gross β radioactivity in water has been improved.
