ASTM C1402-04

Standard Guide for High-Resolution Gamma-Ray Spectrometry of Soil Samples

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Gamma-ray spectrometry of soil samples is used to identify and quantify certain gamma-ray emitting radionuclides. Use of a germanium semiconductor detector is necessary for high-resolution gamma-ray measurements.
Much of the data acquisition and analysis can be automated with the use of commercially available systems that include both hardware and software. For a general description of the typical hardware in more detail than discussed in Section 6, see Ref (19).
Both qualitative and quantitative analyses may be performed using the same measurement data.
The procedures described in this guide may be used for a wide variety of activity levels, from natural background levels and fallout-type problems, to determining the effectiveness of cleanup efforts after a spill or an industrial accident, to tracing contamination at older production sites, where wastes were purposely disposed of in soil. In some cases, the combination of radionuclide identities and concentration ratios can be used to determine the source of the radioactive materials.
Collecting samples and bringing them to a data acquisition system for analysis may be used as the primary method to detect deposition of radionuclides in soil. For obtaining a representative set of samples that cover a particular area, see Practice C 998. Soil can also be measured by taking the data acquisition system to the field and measuring the soil in place (in situ). In situ measurement techniques are not discussed in this guide.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers the identification and quantitative determination of gamma-ray emitting radionuclides in soil samples by means of gamma-ray spectrometry. It is applicable to nuclides emitting gamma rays with energies greater than 20 keV. For typical gamma-ray spectrometry systems and sample types, activity levels of about 5 Bq are measured easily for most nuclides, and activity levels as low as 0.1 Bq can be measured for many nuclides. It is not applicable to radionuclides that emit no gamma rays such as the pure beta-emitting radionuclides hydrogen-3, carbon-14, strontium-90, and becquerel quantities of most transuranics. This guide does not address the in situ measurement techniques, where soil is analyzed in place without sampling. Guidance for in situ techniques can be found in Ref (1) and (2). This guide also does not discuss methods for determining lower limits of detection. Such discussions can be found in Refs (3), (4), (5), and (6).
1.2 This guide can be used for either quantitative or relative determinations. For quantitative assay, the results are expressed in terms of absolute activities or activity concentrations of the radionuclides found to be present. This guide may also be used for qualitative identification of the gamma-ray emitting radionuclides in soil without attempting to quantify their activities. It can also be used to only determine their level of activities relative to each other but not in an absolute sense. General information on radioactivity and its measurement may be found in Refs (7), (8), (9), (10), and (11) and General Methods E-181. Information on specific applications of gamma-ray spectrometry is also available in Refs (12) or (13). Practice D 3649 is a valuable source of information.
1.3 This standard may involve hazardous material, operations, and equipment. This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-May-2004
• ICS: 13.080.20 - Physical properties of soils
• Technical Committee: C26 - Nuclear Fuel Cycle
• Drafting Committee: C26.05 - Methods of Test

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM C1402-98 - Standard Guide for High-Resolution Gamma-Ray Spectrometry of Soil Samples
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2004
• Replaced By: ASTM C1402-04(2009) - Standard Guide for High-Resolution Gamma-Ray Spectrometry of Soil Samples
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM C999-17 - Standard Practice for Soil Sample Preparation for the Determination of Radionuclides
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2004
• Referred By: ASTM E3376-23 - Standard Practice for Calibration and Usage of Germanium Detectors in Radiation Metrology for Reactor Dosimetry
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2004
• Referred By: ASTM E181-23 - Standard Guide for Detector Calibration and Analysis of Radionuclides in Radiation Metrology for Reactor Dosimetry
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2004

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:C1402–04
Standard Guide for
1
High-Resolution Gamma-Ray Spectrometry of Soil Samples
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 1402; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
3
1.1 This guide covers the identification and quantitative 2.1 ASTM Standards:
determination of gamma-ray emitting radionuclides in soil C 998 Practice for Sampling Surface Soil for Radionuclides
samples by means of gamma-ray spectrometry. It is applicable C 999 Practice for Soil Sample Preparation for the Deter-
to nuclides emitting gamma rays with an approximate energy mination of Radionuclides
range of 20 to 2000 keV. For typical gamma-ray spectrometry C 1009 Guide for Establishing a Quality Assurance Pro-
systems and sample types, activity levels of about 5 Bq (135 gram for Analytical Chemistry Laboratories Within the
pCi) are measured easily for most nuclides, and activity levels Nuclear Industry
as low as 0.1 Bq (2.7 pCi) can be measured for many nuclides. D 3649 Practice for High-Resolution Gamma-Ray Spec-
It is not applicable to radionuclides that emit no gamma rays trometry of Water
such as the pure beta-emitting radionuclides hydrogen-3, E 181 Test Methods for Detector Calibration and Analysis
carbon-14, strontium-90, and becquerel quantities of most of Radionuclides
transuranics. This guide does not address the in situ measure- IEEE/ASTM-SI-10 Standard for Use of the International
ment techniques, where soil is analyzed in place without System of Units (SI) the Modern Metric System
4
sampling. Guidance for in situ techniques can be found in Ref 2.2 ANSI Standards:
2
(1) and (2). This guide also does not discuss methods for N13.30 Performance Criteria for Radiobioassay
determining lower limits of detection. Such discussions can be N42.14 Calibration and Use of Germanium Spectrometers
found in Refs (3), (4), (5), and (6). for the Measurement of Gamma-Ray Emission Rates of
1.2 This guide can be used for either quantitative or relative Radionuclides
determinations.Forquantitativeassay,theresultsareexpressed N42.23 Measurement Quality Assurance for Radioassay
in terms of absolute activities or activity concentrations of the Laboratories
radionuclides found to be present.This guide may also be used ANSI/IEEE-645 Test Procedures for High Purity Germa-
for qualitative identification of the gamma-ray emitting radio- nium Detectors for Ionizing Radiation
nuclides in soil without attempting to quantify their activities.
3. Summary of Guide
It can also be used to only determine their level of activities
3.1 High-resolution germanium detectors and multichannel
relative to each other but not in an absolute sense. General
information on radioactivity and its measurement may be analyzers are used to ensure the identification of the gamma-
ray emitting radionuclides that are present and to provide the
found in Refs (7), (8), (9), (10), and (11) and Standard Test
Methods E 181. Information on specific applications of best possible accuracy for quantitative activity determinations.
3.2 For qualitative radionuclide identifications, the system
gamma-ray spectrometry is also available in Refs (12) or (13).
Practice D 3649 may be a valuable source of information. must be energy calibrated. For quantitative determinations, the
system must also be shape and efficiency calibrated. The
1.3 This standard may involve hazardous material, opera-
tions, and equipment. This standard does not purport to standard sample/detector geometries must be established as
part of the efficiency calibration procedure.
address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its
use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to 3.3 The soil samples typically need to be pretreated (for
example, dried), weighed, and placed in a standard container.
establish appropriate safety and health practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Forquantitativemeasurements,thedimensionsofthecontainer
1 3
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee C26 on Nuclear Fuel For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Cycle and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C26.05 on Methods of Test. contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
CurrenteditionapprovedJune1,2004.PublishedJuly2004.Originallyapproved Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
in 1998. Last previous edition approved in 1998 as C 1402 – 98. the ASTM website.
2 4
The boldface numbers in parentheses
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