ASTM D1943-20
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Alpha Particle Radioactivity of Water
Standard Test Method for Alpha Particle Radioactivity of Water 
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method was developed for the purpose of measuring gross alpha radioactivity in water. It is used for the analysis of both process and environmental water to determine gross alpha activity which is often a result of natural radioactivity present in minerals.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the measurement of alpha particle activity of water. It is applicable to nuclides that emit alpha particles with energies above 3.9 MeV and at activity levels above 0.02 Bq/mL (540 pCi/L) of radioactive homogeneous water. This test method is not applicable to samples containing alpha-emitting radionuclides that are volatile under conditions of the analysis.
1.2 This test method can be used for either absolute or relative determinations. In tracer work, the results may be expressed by comparison with a standard that is defined to be 100 %. For radioassay, data may be expressed in terms of alpha disintegration rates after calibration with a suitable standard. General information on radioactivity and measurement of radiation has been published in Refs (1-3)2 and summarized in Practices D3648.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.4 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
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This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D1943 − 20
Standard Test Method for
1
Alpha Particle Radioactivity of Water
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D1943; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
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1.1 This test method covers the measurement of alpha 2.1 ASTM Standards:
particle activity of water. It is applicable to nuclides that emit D1129Terminology Relating to Water
alpha particles with energies above 3.9 MeV and at activity D1193Specification for Reagent Water
levels above 0.02 Bq/mL (540 pCi/L) of radioactive homoge- D2777Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of
neous water. This test method is not applicable to samples Applicable Test Methods of Committee D19 on Water
containing alpha-emitting radionuclides that are volatile under D3370Practices for Sampling Water from Flowing Process
conditions of the analysis. Streams
D3648Practices for the Measurement of Radioactivity
1.2 This test method can be used for either absolute or
D4448GuideforSamplingGround-WaterMonitoringWells
relative determinations. In tracer work, the results may be
D6001Guide for Direct-Push Groundwater Sampling for
expressed by comparison with a standard that is defined to be
Environmental Site Characterization
100%.Forradioassay,datamaybeexpressedintermsofalpha
D7282Practice for Set-up, Calibration, and Quality Control
disintegration rates after calibration with a suitable standard.
of Instruments Used for Radioactivity Measurements
General information on radioactivity and measurement of
2
D7902Terminology for Radiochemical Analyses
radiation has been published in Refs (1-3) and summarized in
Practices D3648.
3. Terminology
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
3.1 Definitions:
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this standard, refer to
standard.
Terminologies D1129 and D7902.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1.2 For terms not defined in this standard, Terminology
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
D1129, or Terminology D7902, reference may be made to
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
other published glossaries.
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
4. Summary of Test Method
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
4.1 The test sample is reduced by evaporation or a suitable
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
chemical method to the minimum weight of material having
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
measurable alpha activity. Alpha radioactivity is measured by
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
aninstrumentcomposedofadetectingdevice,amplifier,power
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
supply, and scaler—the most widely used being proportional
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
and scintillation counters. In the proportional counter, which
may be of the windowless or thin window type, alpha particles
1 entering the sensitive region of the detector produce ionization
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D19 on Water
andisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeD19.04onMethodsofRadiochemi- of the counting gas.The negative ion of the original ion pair is
cal Analysis.
Current edition approved Oct. 15, 2020. Published November 2020. Originally
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approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D1943–05 (2012). For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
DOI: 10.1520/D1943-20. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
2
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
this standard. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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D1943 − 20
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accelerated towards the anode, producing additional ionization to 15% loss at 1 mg/cm . Liquid samples shall be evaporated
of the counting gas and developing a voltage pulse at the to dryness onto dishes that allow the sa
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D1943 − 05 (Reapproved 2012) D1943 − 20
Standard Test Method for
1
Alpha Particle Radioactivity of Water
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D1943; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers the measurement of alpha particle activity of water. It is applicable to nuclides that emit alpha particles
with energies above 3.9 MeV and at activity levels above 0.02 Bq/mL (540 pCi/L) of radioactive homogeneous water. This test
method is not applicable to samples containing alpha-emitting radionuclides that are volatile under conditions of the analysis.
1.2 This test method can be used for either absolute or relative determinations. In tracer work, the results may be expressed by
comparison with a standard that is defined to be 100 %. For radioassay, data may be expressed in terms of alpha disintegration rates
after calibration with a suitable standard. General information on radioactivity and measurement of radiation has been
2
published published in Refs (1-3) and summarized in PracticePractices D3648.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.4 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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
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2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
D2777 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of Applicable Test Methods of Committee D19 on Water
D3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Flowing Process Streams
D3648 Practices for the Measurement of Radioactivity
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.04 on Methods of Radiochemical
Analysis.
Current edition approved June 1, 2012Oct. 15, 2020. Published August 2012November 2020. Originally approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 20052012
as D1943 – 05.D1943 – 05 (2012). DOI: 10.1520/D1943-05R12.10.1520/D1943-20.
2
Friedlander, G., et al.,The boldface numbers in Nuclear and Radiochemistry,parentheses refer to 3rd Ed., John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, NY, 1981.a list of
references at the end of this standard.
Price, W. J., Nuclear Radiation Detection, 2nd Ed., McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York, NY, 1964.
Lapp, R. E., and Andrews, H. L., Nuclear Radiation Physics, 4th Ed., Prentice-Hall Inc., New York, NY, 1972.
Overman, R. T., and Clark, H. M., Radioisotope Techniques, McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York, NY, 1960.
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For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’sstandard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D1943 − 20
D4448 Guide for Sampling Ground-Water Monitoring Wells
D6001 Guide for Direct-Push Groundwater Sampling for Environmental Site Characterization
D7282 Practice for Set-up, Calibration, and Quality Control of Instruments Used for Radioactivity Measurements
D7902 Terminology for Radiochemical Analyses
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer to Terminology D1129. For terms not defined in this
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test method or in Terminology D1129, reference may be made to other published glossaries.
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this standard, refer to Terminologies D1129 and D7902.
3.1.2 For terms not d
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