Water quality - Strontium 90 and strontium 89 - Test methods using liquid scintillation counting or proportional counting (ISO 13160:2021)

This document specifies conditions for the determination of 90Sr and 89Sr activity concentration in
samples of environmental water using liquid scintillation counting (LSC) or proportional counting (PC).
The method is applicable to test samples of drinking water, rainwater, surface and ground water,
marine water, as well as cooling water, industrial water, domestic, and industrial wastewater after
proper sampling and handling, and test sample preparation. Filtration of the test sample and a chemical
separation are required to separate and purify strontium from a test portion of the sample.
The detection limit depends on the sample volume, the instrument used, the sample count time, the
background count rate, the detection efficiency and the chemical yield. The method described in this
document, using currently available LSC counters, has a detection limit of approximately 10 mBq l−1
and 2 mBq l−1 for 89Sr and 90Sr, respectively, which is lower than the WHO criteria for safe consumption
of drinking water (100 Bq·l−1 for 89Sr and 10 Bq·l−1 for 90Sr)[3]. These values can be achieved with a
counting time of 1 000 min for a sample volume of 2 l.
The methods described in this document are applicable in the event of an emergency situation.
When fallout occurs following a nuclear accident, the contribution of 89Sr to the total amount of
radioactive strontium is not negligible. This document provides test methods to determine the activity
concentration of 90Sr in presence of 89Sr.
The analysis of 90Sr and 89Sr adsorbed to suspended matter is not covered by this method.
It is the user’s responsibility to ensure the validity of this test method selected for the water samples
tested.

Wasserbeschaffenheit - Strontium-90 und Strontium-89 - Verfahren mittels Flüssigszintillationszählung oder Proportionalzählung (ISO 13160:2021)

Dieses Dokument bietet eine Auswahl an Prüfverfahren und ihre dazugehörigen Grundlagen für die Messung der Aktivität von 90Sr im Gleichgewicht mit 90Y und 89Sr, reinen Beta-Strahlen emittierenden Radionukliden, in Wasserproben. Es werden verschiedene chemische Trennverfahren zur Herstellung von Strontium- und Yttrium-Messproben erläutert, deren Aktivität mittels eines Proportionalzählers (PC, en: proportional counter) oder Flüssigszintillationszählers (LSC, en: liquid scintillation counter) bestimmt wird.
Die Auswahl eines speziellen Prüfverfahrens ist abhängig vom Ursprung der Kontamination, von den Eigenschaften des zu analysierenden Wassers, der erforderlichen Genauigkeit der Prüfergebnisse und von den verfügbaren Ressourcen der Labore.
Diese Prüfverfahren werden zur Wasserüberwachung eingesetzt. Sie erfassen vergangene oder gegenwärtige Störfall bedingte oder routinemäßige, flüssige oder gasförmige Ableitungen. Dies beinhaltet auch die Überwachung der vom weltweiten Fallout verursachten Kontamination.
Bei einem Fallout unmittelbar nach einem nuklearen Unfall, ist der Beitrag von 89Sr bezogen auf die Gesamtmenge an Strontium-Aktivität nicht unerheblich. Dieses Dokument umfasst die Prüfverfahren zur Bestimmung der Aktivitätskonzentration von 90Sr bei Vorhandensein von 89Sr.

Qualité de l'eau - Strontium 90 et strontium 89 - Méthodes d'essai par comptage des scintillations en milieu liquide ou par comptage proportionnel (ISO 13160:2021)

Le présent document spécifie les conditions de la détermination de l’activité volumique du 90Sr et du 89Sr d’échantillons d’eau environnementale par comptage des scintillations en milieu liquide (CSL) ou comptage proportionnel.
La méthode est applicable aux échantillons pour essai d’eau potable, d’eau de pluie, d’eau de surface et d’eau souterraine, d’eau de mer, ainsi que d’eau de refroidissement, d’eau industrielle, d’eaux usées domestiques et industrielles après échantillonnage, manipulation de l’échantillon et préparation de l’échantillon pour essai appropriés. La filtration de l’échantillon pour essai et une séparation chimique sont requises pour séparer et purifier le strontium d’une prise d’essai de l’échantillon.
La limite de détection dépend du volume de l’échantillon, de l’instrument utilisé, de la durée de comptage de l’échantillon, du taux de comptage du bruit de fond, du rendement de détection et du rendement chimique. La méthode décrite dans le présent document, avec les compteurs CSL actuellement disponibles, a une limite de détection d’approximativement 10 mBq l−1 et 2 mBq l−1 pour 89Sr et 90Sr, respectivement, ces valeurs étant inférieures aux critères de sécurité de l’OMS pour la consommation d’eau potable (100 Bq·l−1 pour 89Sr et 10 Bq·l−1 pour 90Sr)[3]. Ces valeurs peuvent être obtenues avec une durée de comptage de 1 000 min pour un volume d’échantillon de 2 l.
Les méthodes décrites dans le présent document sont applicables en situation d’urgence. Dans le cas de retombées récentes se produisant après un accident nucléaire, la contribution du 89Sr à la quantité totale de strontium radioactif n’est pas négligeable. Le présent document fournit les méthodes d’essai permettant de déterminer l’activité volumique du 90Sr en présence de 89Sr.
L’analyse du 90Sr et du 89Sr adsorbés sur les particules en suspension n’est pas couverte par la présente méthode.
Il incombe à l’utilisateur de s’assurer que la méthode d’essai choisie pour les échantillons d’eau soumis à essai est valide.

Kakovost vode - Stroncij Sr-90 in stroncij Sr-89 - Preskusne metode s štetjem s tekočinskim scintilatorjem ali proporcionalnim štetjem (ISO 13160:2021)

General Information

Status
Published
Public Enquiry End Date
03-May-2020
Publication Date
06-Sep-2021
Technical Committee
Current Stage
6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
Start Date
17-Aug-2021
Due Date
22-Oct-2021
Completion Date
07-Sep-2021

Relations

Buy Standard

Standard
EN ISO 13160:2021
English language
51 pages
sale 10% off
Preview
sale 10% off
Preview
e-Library read for
1 day
Draft
prEN ISO 13160:2020
English language
48 pages
sale 10% off
Preview
sale 10% off
Preview
e-Library read for
1 day

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST EN ISO 13160:2021
01-oktober-2021
Nadomešča:
SIST EN ISO 13160:2016
Kakovost vode - Stroncij Sr-90 in stroncij Sr-89 - Preskusne metode s štetjem s
tekočinskim scintilatorjem ali proporcionalnim štetjem (ISO 13160:2021)
Water quality - Strontium 90 and strontium 89 - Test methods using liquid scintillation
counting or proportional counting (ISO 13160:2021)
Wasserbeschaffenheit - Strontium-90 und Strontium-89 - Verfahren mittels
Flüssigszintillationszählung oder Proportionalzählung (ISO 13160:2021)
Qualité de l'eau - Strontium 90 et strontium 89 - Méthodes d'essai par comptage des
scintillations en milieu liquide ou par comptage proportionnel (ISO 13160:2021)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 13160:2021
ICS:
13.060.60 Preiskava fizikalnih lastnosti Examination of physical
vode properties of water
17.240 Merjenje sevanja Radiation measurements
SIST EN ISO 13160:2021 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 13160:2021

---------------------- Page: 2 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 13160:2021


EN ISO 13160
EUROPEAN STANDARD

NORME EUROPÉENNE

July 2021
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 13.060.60; 17.240 Supersedes EN ISO 13160:2015
English Version

Water quality - Strontium 90 and strontium 89 - Test
methods using liquid scintillation counting or proportional
counting (ISO 13160:2021)
Qualité de l'eau - Strontium 90 et strontium 89 - Wasserbeschaffenheit - Strontium-90 und Strontium-
Méthodes d'essai par comptage des scintillations en 89 - Verfahren mittels Flüssigszintillationszählung
milieu liquide ou par comptage proportionnel (ISO oder Proportionalzählung (ISO 13160:2021)
13160:2021)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 10 June 2021.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
United Kingdom.





EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2021 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 13160:2021 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

---------------------- Page: 3 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 13160:2021
EN ISO 13160:2021 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3

2

---------------------- Page: 4 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 13160:2021
EN ISO 13160:2021 (E)
European foreword
This document (EN ISO 13160:2021) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 147 "Water
quality" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 230 “Water analysis” the secretariat of
which is held by DIN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by January 2022, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by January 2022.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO 13160:2015.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards
body/national committee. A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN websites.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the
United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 13160:2021 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 13160:2021 without any modification.

3

---------------------- Page: 5 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 13160:2021

---------------------- Page: 6 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 13160:2021
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 13160
Second edition
2021-07
Water quality — Strontium 90 and
strontium 89 — Test methods using
liquid scintillation counting or
proportional counting
Qualité de l'eau — Strontium 90 et strontium 89 — Méthodes d'essai
par comptage des scintillations en milieu liquide ou par comptage
proportionnel
Reference number
ISO 13160:2021(E)
©
ISO 2021

---------------------- Page: 7 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 13160:2021
ISO 13160:2021(E)

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT
© ISO 2021
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting
on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address
below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2021 – All rights reserved

---------------------- Page: 8 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 13160:2021
ISO 13160:2021(E)

Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction .vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 2
4 Principle . 2
4.1 General . 2
4.2 Chemical separation . 3
4.3 Detection . 3
5 Chemical reagents and equipment . 3
6 Procedure. 4
6.1 Test sample preparation . 4
6.2 Chemical separation . 4
6.2.1 General. 4
6.2.2 Precipitation techniques . 5
6.2.3 Liquid–liquid extraction technique . 6
6.2.4 Chromatographic technique . 6
6.3 Preparation of the source for test . 6
6.3.1 Source preparation for liquid scintillation counter . 6
6.3.2 Source preparation for proportional counter . 6
6.4 Measurement . 7
6.4.1 General. 7
6.4.2 Liquid scintillation counter . 7
6.4.3 Proportional counter . . 7
6.4.4 Efficiency calculation . 8
6.4.5 Determination of the chemical yield . 8
7 Expression of results . 9
90 90
7.1 Determination of Sr in equilibrium with Y . 9
7.1.1 Calculation of the activity concentration . 9
7.1.2 Standard uncertainty . 9
7.1.3 Decision threshold.10
7.1.4 Detection limit .10
90 90
7.2 Determination of Sr from separated Y .10
7.2.1 Calculation of the activity concentration .10
7.2.2 Standard uncertainty .11
7.2.3 Decision threshold.12
7.2.4 Detection limit .12
90 89 90 90
7.3 Determination of Sr and Sr utilizing Sr/ Y equilibrium.12
7.3.1 Calculation of the activity concentration .12
7.3.2 Standard uncertainty .13
7.3.3 Decision threshold.14
7.3.4 Detection limit .15
8 Limits of the coverage intervals .15
8.1 Limits of the of the probabilistically symmetric coverage interval .15
8.2 Limits of the shortest coverage interval .16
9 Quality control .16
10 Test report .16
89 90
Annex A (informative) Determination of Sr and Sr by precipitation and proportional
counting .18
© ISO 2021 – All rights reserved iii

---------------------- Page: 9 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 13160:2021
ISO 13160:2021(E)

89 90
Annex B (informative) Determination of Sr and Sr by precipitation and liquid
scintillation counting .22
90 90
Annex C (informative) Determination of Sr from its decay progeny Y at equilibrium by
organic extraction and liquid scintillation counting .26
90
Annex D (informative) Determination of Sr after ionic exchange separation by
proportional counting .29
90
Annex E (informative) Determination of Sr after separation on a crown ether specific
resin and liquid scintillation counting .32
90 90
Annex F (informative) Determination of Sr from its decay progeny Y at equilibrium by
organic extraction and proportional counting .34
90
Annex G (informative) Correction factor for Sr purity using proportional counting .38
Bibliography .41
iv © ISO 2021 – All rights reserved

---------------------- Page: 10 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 13160:2021
ISO 13160:2021(E)

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/ directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/ patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see www .iso .org/
iso/ foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 147, Water quality, Subcommittee SC 3,
Radioactivity measurements.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 13160:2012), which has been technically
revised. The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— The way standard the uncertainty, decision threshold and detection limit are calculated has been
updated in conformance with ISO 11929-1:2019.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www .iso .org/ members .html.
© ISO 2021 – All rights reserved v

---------------------- Page: 11 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 13160:2021
ISO 13160:2021(E)

Introduction
Radioactivity from several naturally-occurring and anthropogenic sources is present throughout
the environment. Thus, water bodies (e.g. surface waters, ground waters, sea waters) can contain
radionuclides of natural, human-made, or both origins.
40 3 14
— Natural radionuclides, including K, H, C, and those originating from the thorium and uranium
226 228 234 238 210
decay series, in particular Ra, Ra, U, U, and Pb, can be found in water for natural reasons
(e.g. desorption from the soil and washoff by rain water) or can be released from technological
processes involving naturally occurring radioactive materials (e.g. the mining and processing of
mineral sands or phosphate fertilizer production and use).
— Human-made radionuclides, such as transuranium elements (americium, plutonium, neptunium,
3 14 90
curium), H, C, Sr, and gamma emitting radionuclides can also be found in natural waters.
Small quantities of these radionuclides are discharged from nuclear fuel cycle facilities into the
environment as the result of authorized routine releases. Some of these radionuclides used for
medical and industrial applications are also released into the environment after use. Anthropogenic
radionuclides are also found in waters as a result of past fallout contaminations resulting from
the explosion in the atmosphere of nuclear devices and accidents such as those that occurred in
Chernobyl and Fukushima.
Radionuclide activity concentration in water bodies can vary according to local geological
characteristics and climatic conditions and can be locally and temporally enhanced by releases from
[1]
nuclear installation during planned, existing and emergency exposure situations . Drinking water
may thus contain radionuclides at activity concentrations which could present a risk to human health.
The radionuclides present in liquid effluents are usually controlled before being discharged into the
[2].
environment Water bodies and drinking waters are monitored for their radioactivity content as
[3]
recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) so that proper actions can be taken to ensure
that there is no adverse health effect to the public. Following these international recommendations,
national regulations usually specify radionuclide authorized concentration limits for liquid effluent
discharged to the environment and radionuclide guidance levels for water bodies and drinking waters
for planned, existing and emergency exposure situations. Compliance with these limits can be assessed
using measurement results with their associated uncertainties as specified by ISO/IEC Guide 98-3 and
[4]
ISO 5667-20 .
Depending on the exposure situation, there are different limits and guidance levels that would result
in an action to reduce health risk. As an example, during a planned or existing situation, the WHO
−1 89 −1
guidelines for guidance level in drinking water is 100 Bq·l for Sr activity concentration and 10 Bq·l
90 [3]
for Sr activity concentration .
−1
NOTE 1 The guidance level is the activity concentration with an intake of 2 l d of drinking water for one year
−1
that results in an effective dose of 0,1 mSv a for members of the public. This is an effective dose that represents
[3]
a very low level of risk and which is not expected to give rise to any detectable adverse health effects
.
[5]
In the event of a nuclear emergency, the WHO Codex guideline levels specifies that the activity
−1 89 −1 90
concentration might not be greater than 1 000 Bq·kg for Sr or 100 Bq·kg for Sr for infant food
−1 89 −1 90
and 1 000 Bq·kg for Sr or 100 Bq·kg for Sr for food other than infant food.
NOTE 2 The Codex guidelines levels (GLs) apply to radionuclides contained in food destined for human
consumption and traded internationally, which have been contaminated following a nuclear or radiological
emergency. These GLs apply to food after reconstitution or as prepared for consumption, i.e. not to dried or
concentrated food, and are based on an intervention exemption level of 1 mSv in a year for members of the public
[5]
(infant and adult) .
Thus, the test method can be adapted so that the characteristic limits, decision threshold, detection
limit and uncertainties ensure that the radionuclide activity concentrations test results can be verified
to be below the guidance levels required by a national authority for either planned/existing situations
[6][7]
or for an emergency situation .
vi © ISO 2021 – All rights reserved

---------------------- Page: 12 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 13160:2021
ISO 13160:2021(E)

Usually, the test methods can be adjusted to measure the activity concentration of the radionuclide(s) in
either wastewaters before storage or in liquid effluents before discharge to the environment. The test
results will enable the plant/installation operator to verify that, before their discharge, wastewaters/
liquid effluent radioactive activity concentrations do not exceed authorized limits.
The test method described in this document may be used during planned, existing and emergency
exposure situations as well as for wastewaters and liquid effluents with specific modifications that
could increase the overall uncertainty, detection limit, and threshold.
The test method may be used for water samples after proper sampling, sample handling, and test
[8],[9],[10]
sample preparation (see the relevant part of the ISO 5667 series ).
This document has been developed to answer the need of test laboratories carrying out these
measurements, that are sometimes required by national authorities, as they may have to obtain a
specific accreditation for radionuclide measurement in drinking water samples.
© ISO 2021 – All rights reserved vii

---------------------- Page: 13 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 13160:2021

---------------------- Page: 14 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 13160:2021
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 13160:2021(E)
Water quality — Strontium 90 and strontium 89 — Test
methods using liquid scintillation counting or proportional
counting
WARNING — Persons using this document should be familiar with normal laboratory practice.
This document does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its
use. It is the responsibility of the user to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to
determine the applicability of any other restrictions.
IMPORTANT — It is absolutely essential that tests conducted according to this document be
carried out by suitably trained staff.
1 Scope
90 89
This document specifies conditions for the determination of Sr and Sr activity concentration in
samples of environmental water using liquid scintillation counting (LSC) or proportional counting (PC).
The method is applicable to test samples of drinking water, rainwater, surface and ground water,
marine water, as well as cooling water, industrial water, domestic, and industrial wastewater after
proper sampling and handling, and test sample preparation. Filtration of the test sample and a chemical
separation are required to separate and purify strontium from a test portion of the sample.
The detection limit depends on the sample volume, the instrument used, the sample count time, the
background count rate, the detection efficiency and the chemical yield. The method described in this
−1
document, using currently available LSC counters, has a detection limit of approximately 10 mBq l
−1 89 90
and 2 mBq l for Sr and Sr, respectively, which is lower than the WHO criteria for safe consumption
−1 89 −1 90 [3]
of drinking water (100 Bq·l for Sr and 10 Bq·l for Sr) . These values can be achieved with a
counting time of 1 000 min for a sample volume of 2 l.
The methods described in this document are applicable in the event of an emergency situation.
89
When fallout occurs following a nuclear accident, the contribution of Sr to the total amount of
radioactive strontium is not negligible. This document provides test methods to determine the activity
90 89
concentration of Sr in presence of Sr.
90 89
The analysis of Sr and Sr adsorbed to suspended matter is not covered by this method.
It is the user’s responsibility to ensure the validity of this test method selected for the water samples
tested.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements for this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO/IEC 17025, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
ISO 11929-1, Determination of the characteristic limits (decision threshold, detection limit and limits of
the coverage interval) for measurements of ionizing radiation — Fundamentals and application — Part 1:
Elementary applications
ISO/IEC Guide 98-3, Uncertainty of measurement — Part 3: Guide to the expression of uncertainty in
me a s ur ement (GUM: 1995)
ISO 80000-10, Quantities and units — Part 10: Atomic and nuclear physics
© ISO 2021 – All rights reserved 1

---------------------- Page: 15 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 13160:2021
ISO 13160:2021(E)

ISO 3696:1987, Water for analytical laboratory use — Specification and test methods
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 11929-1 and ISO 80000-10
apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Onli
...

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN ISO 13160:2020
01-april-2020
Kakovost vode - Stroncij Sr-90 in stroncij Sr-89 - Preskusne metode s štetjem s
tekočinskim scintilatorjem ali proporcionalnim štetjem (ISO/DIS 13160:2020)
Water quality - Strontium 90 and strontium 89 - Test methods using liquid scintillation
counting or proportional counting (ISO/DIS 13160:2020)
Wasserbeschaffenheit - Strontium 90 und Strontium 89 - Verfahren mittels
Flüssigszintillationszählung oder Proportionalzählung (ISO/DIS 13160:2020)
Qualité de l'eau - Strontium 90 et strontium 89 - Méthodes d'essai par comptage des
scintillations en milieu liquide ou par comptage proportionnel (ISO/DIS 13160:2020)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN ISO 13160
ICS:
13.060.60 Preiskava fizikalnih lastnosti Examination of physical
vode properties of water
17.240 Merjenje sevanja Radiation measurements
oSIST prEN ISO 13160:2020 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 13160:2020

---------------------- Page: 2 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 13160:2020
DRAFT INTERNATIONAL STANDARD
ISO/DIS 13160
ISO/TC 147/SC 3 Secretariat: AFNOR
Voting begins on: Voting terminates on:
2020-02-24 2020-05-18
Water quality — Strontium 90 and strontium 89 — Test
methods using liquid scintillation counting or proportional
counting
Qualité de l'eau — Strontium 90 et strontium 89 — Méthodes d'essai par comptage des scintillations en
milieu liquide ou par comptage proportionnel
ICS: 13.060.60; 17.240
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED
This document is circulated as received from the committee secretariat.
FOR COMMENT AND APPROVAL. IT IS
THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND MAY
NOT BE REFERRED TO AS AN INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD UNTIL PUBLISHED AS SUCH.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
ISO/CEN PARALLEL PROCESSING
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL,
TECHNOLOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND
USER PURPOSES, DRAFT INTERNATIONAL
STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE TO
BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR
POTENTIAL TO BECOME STANDARDS TO
WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE MADE IN
Reference number
NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
ISO/DIS 13160:2020(E)
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED
TO SUBMIT, WITH THEIR COMMENTS,
NOTIFICATION OF ANY RELEVANT PATENT
RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE AND TO
©
PROVIDE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION. ISO 2020

---------------------- Page: 3 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 13160:2020
ISO/DIS 13160:2020(E)

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT
© ISO 2020
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting
on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address
below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Fax: +41 22 749 09 47
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

---------------------- Page: 4 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 13160:2020
ISO/DIS 13160:2020(E)

Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction .vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Principle . 2
4.1 General . 2
4.2 Chemical separation . 2
4.3 Detection . 3
5 Chemical reagents and equipment . 3
6 Procedure. 3
6.1 Test sample preparation . 3
6.2 Chemical separation . 3
6.2.1 General. 3
6.2.2 Precipitation techniques . 4
6.2.3 Liquid–liquid extraction technique . 5
6.2.4 Chromatographic technique . 5
6.3 Preparation of the source for test . 5
6.3.1 Source preparation for liquid scintillation counter . 5
6.3.2 Source preparation for proportional counter . 5
6.4 Measurement . 6
6.4.1 General. 6
6.4.2 Liquid scintillation counter . 6
6.4.3 Proportional counter . . 6
6.4.4 Efficiency calculation . 7
6.4.5 Determination of the chemical yield . 7
7 Expression of results . 8
90 90
7.1 Determination of Sr in equilibrium with Y . 8
7.1.1 Calculation of the activity concentration . 8
7.1.2 Standard uncertainty . 8
7.1.3 Decision threshold. 9
7.1.4 Detection limit . 9
90 90
7.2 Determination of Sr from separated Y . 9
7.2.1 Calculation of the activity concentration . 9
7.2.2 Standard uncertainty .10
7.2.3 Decision threshold.11
7.2.4 Detection limit .11
90 89 90 90
7.3 Determination of Sr in presence of Sr when Sr is in equilibrium with Y .11
7.3.1 Calculation of the activity concentration .11
7.3.2 Standard uncertainty .12
7.3.3 Decision threshold.13
7.3.4 Detection limit .14
8 Limits of the coverage intervals .14
8.1 Limits of the of the probabilistically symmetric coverage interval .14
8.2 The shortest coverage interval .15
9 Quality control .15
10 Test report .15
89 90
Annex A (informative) Determination of Sr and Sr by precipitation and proportional
counting .17
© ISO 2020 – All rights reserved iii

---------------------- Page: 5 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 13160:2020
ISO/DIS 13160:2020(E)

89 90
Annex B (informative) Determination of Sr and Sr by precipitation and liquid
scintillation counting .21
90 90
Annex C (informative) Determination of Sr from its decay progeny Y at equilibrium by
organic extraction and liquid scintillation counting .25
90
Annex D (informative) Determination of Sr after ionic exchange separation by
proportional counting .28
90
Annex E (informative) Determination of Sr after separation on a crown ether specific
resin and liquid scintillation counting .31
90 90
Annex F (informative) Determination of Sr from its decay progeny Y at equilibrium by
organic extraction by proportional counting .33
Annex G (informative) Correction factor for Sr-90 purity using proportional counting.37
Bibliography .40
iv © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

---------------------- Page: 6 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 13160:2020
ISO/DIS 13160:2020(E)

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/ directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/ patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see www .iso .org/
iso/ foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 147, Water quality, Subcommittee SC 3,
Radioactivity measurements.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 13160:2012), which has been technically
revised. The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
© ISO 2020 – All rights reserved v

---------------------- Page: 7 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 13160:2020
ISO/DIS 13160:2020(E)

Introduction
Radioactivity from several naturally-occurring and anthropogenic sources is present throughout
the environment. Thus, water bodies (e.g. surface waters, ground waters, sea waters) can contain
radionuclides of natural, human-made, or both origins.
40 3 14
— Natural radionuclides, including K, H, C, and those originating from the thorium and uranium
226 228 234 238 210
decay series, in particular Ra, Ra, U, U, and Pb, can be found in water for natural reasons
(e.g. desorption from the soil and washoff by rain water) or can be released from technological
processes involving naturally occurring radioactive materials (e.g. the mining and processing of
mineral sands or phosphate fertilizer production and use).
— Human-made radionuclides, such as transuranium elements (americium, plutonium, neptunium,
3 14 90
curium), H, C, Sr, and gamma emitting radionuclides can also be found in natural waters.
Small quantities of these radionuclides are discharged from nuclear fuel cycle facilities into the
environment as the result of authorized routine releases. Some of these radionuclides used for
medical and industrial applications are also released into the environment after use. Anthropogenic
radionuclides are also found in waters as a result of past fallout contaminations resulting from
the explosion in the atmosphere of nuclear devices and accidents such as those that occurred in
Chernobyl and Fukushima.
Radionuclide activity concentration in water bodies can vary according to local geological
characteristics and climatic conditions and can be locally and temporally enhanced by releases from
[1]
nuclear installation during planned, existing and emergency exposure situations . Drinking water
may thus contain radionuclides at activity concentrations which could present a risk to human health.
The radionuclides present in liquid effluents are usually controlled before being discharged into the
[2].
environment Water bodies and drinking waters are monitored for their radioactivity content as
[3]
recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) so that proper actions can be taken to ensure
that there is no adverse health effect to the public. Following these international recommendations,
national regulations usually specify radionuclide authorized concentration limits for liquid effluent
discharged to the environment and radionuclide guidance levels for water bodies and drinking waters
for planned, existing and emergency exposure situations. Compliance with these limits can be assessed
using measurement results with their associated uncertainties as specified by ISO/IEC Guide 98-3 and
[4]
ISO 5667-20 .
Depending on the exposure situation, there are different limits and guidance levels that would result
in an action to reduce health risk. As an example, during a planned or existing situation, the WHO
−1 89 −1
guidelines for guidance level in drinking water is 100 Bq·l for Sr activity concentration and 10 Bq·l
90
for Sr activity concentration.
NOTE 1 The guidance level is the activity concentration with an intake of 2 l/d of drinking water for one year
that results in an effective dose of 0,1 mSv/a for members of the public. This is an effective dose that represents a
[3]
very low level of risk and which is not expected to give rise to any detectable adverse health effects .
[5]
In the event of a nuclear emergency, the WHO Codex guideline levels mentioned that the activity
−1 89 −1 90
concentration might not be greater than 1000 Bq·l for Sr or 100 Bq·l for Sr for infant food and
−1 89 −1 90
1000 Bq·l for Sr or 100 Bq·l for Sr for food other than infant food.
NOTE 2 The Codex guidelines levels (GLs) apply to radionuclides contained in food destined for human
consumption and traded internationally, which have been contaminated following a nuclear or radiological
emergency. These GLs apply to food after reconstitution or as prepared for consumption, i.e. not to dried or
concentrated food, and are based on an intervention exemption level of 1 mSv in a year for members of the public
[5].
(infant and adult)
Thus, the test method can be adapted so that the characteristic limits, decision threshold, detection
limit and uncertainties ensure that the radionuclide activity concentrations test results can be verified
to be below the guidance levels required by a national authority for either planned/existing situations
[6][7]
or for an emergency situation .
vi © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

---------------------- Page: 8 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 13160:2020
ISO/DIS 13160:2020(E)

Usually, the test methods can be adjusted to measure the activity concentration of the radionuclide(s) in
either wastewaters before storage or in liquid effluents before discharge to the environment. The test
results will enable the plant/installation operator to verify that, before their discharge, wastewaters/
liquid effluent radioactive activity concentrations do not exceed authorized limits.
The test method described in this document may be used during planned, existing and emergency
exposure situations as well as for wastewaters and liquid effluents with specific modifications that
could increase the overall uncertainty, detection limit, and threshold.
The test method may be used for water samples after proper sampling, sample handling, and test
sample preparation (see the relevant part of the ISO 5667 series).
This document has been developed to answer the need of test laboratories carrying out these
measurements, that are sometimes required by national authorities, as they may have to obtain a
specific accreditation for radionuclide measurement in drinking water samples.
This document is one of a set of International Standards on test methods dealing with the measurement
of the activity concentration of radionuclides in water samples.
© ISO 2020 – All rights reserved vii

---------------------- Page: 9 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 13160:2020

---------------------- Page: 10 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 13160:2020
DRAFT INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/DIS 13160:2020(E)
Water quality — Strontium 90 and strontium 89 — Test
methods using liquid scintillation counting or proportional
counting
WARNING — Persons using this document should be familiar with normal laboratory practice.
This document does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its
use. It is the responsibility of the user to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to
determine the applicability of any other restrictions.
IMPORTANT — It is absolutely essential that tests conducted according to this document be
carried out by suitably trained staff.
1 Scope
This document provides a selection of test methods and their associated principles for the measurement
90 90 89
of the activity of Sr in equilibrium with Y, and Sr, pure beta-emitting radionuclides, in water
samples. Different chemical separation methods are presented to produce strontium and yttrium
sources, the activity of which are determined using a proportional counter (PC) or liquid scintillation
counter (LSC).
The selection of a particular test method depends on the origin of the contamination, the characteristics
of the water to be analyzed, the required accuracy of test results and the available resources of the
laboratory.
These test methods are used for water monitoring following past or present, accidental or routine,
liquid or gaseous discharges. It also covers the monitoring of contamination caused by global fallout.
89
When fallout occurs immediately following a nuclear accident, the contribution of Sr to the total
amount of strontium activity is not negligible. This document provides test methods to determine the
90 89
activity concentration of Sr in presence of Sr.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements for this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 11929, Determination of the characteristic limits (decision threshold, detection limit and limits of the
confidence interval) for measurements of ionizing radiation — Fundamentals and application
ISO 80000-10, Quantities and units — Part 10: Atomic and nuclear physics
ISO 19361, Measurement of radioactivity — Determination of beta emitters activities — Test method using
liquid scintillation counting
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the definitions, symbols, and abbreviated terms defined in
ISO 11929, ISO 80000-10 and the following apply.
A calibration source activity of radionuclide i, at the time of calibration Bq
i
-1
c activity concentration of radionuclide i Bq l
A,i
© ISO 2020 – All rights reserved 1

---------------------- Page: 11 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 13160:2020
ISO/DIS 13160:2020(E)

* -1
decision threshold of radionuclide i Bq l
c
A,i
-1
#
detection limit of radionuclide i Bq l
c
A,i
 -1
lower and upper limits of the probabilistically symmetric coverage interval of Bq l
cc,
Ai,,Ai
radionuclide i
-1
<>
lower and upper limits of the shortest coverage interval of radionuclide i Bq l
cc,
Ai,,Ai
R chemical yield of the extraction of radionuclide i 1
c,i
-1
r background count rate s
0
-1
r background count rate for measurement j s
0j
-1
r gross count rate s
g
-1
r gross count rate for measurement j s
gj
-1
r net count rate for measurement j s
j
-1
r calibration source count rate s
s
90 90
t time elapsed between separation of Sr/ Y (t = 0) and mid-point of counting s
t background counting time s
0
t , t start and finish time respectively of the measurement, referred to t = 0 s
d f
t sample counting time s
g
t start time of the measurement j, referred to t = 0 s
j
t calibration source counting time s
s
-1
U expanded uncertainty, calculated by U = ku(c ) with k = 1, 2 . Bq l
A
-1
u(c ) standard uncertainty associated with the measurement result Bq l
A
V volume of the test sample l
ε counting efficiency for radionuclide i 1
i
λ decay constant of radionuclide i 1
i
4 Principle
4.1 General
90 89
Strontium-90, Y and Sr are all pure beta-particle emitting radionuclides. Their beta-emission
energies and half-lives are given in Table 1.
90 90 89 [8]
Table 1 — Half-lives, maximum energies, and average energies of Sr, Y, and Sr
90 90 89
Parameter Sr Y Sr
Maximum energy 546,0 keV 2 283,9 keV 1 491,0 keV
Average energy 196,4 keV 935,3 keV 586,3 keV
Half-life 28,80 (7) a 2,6684 (13) d 50,57 (3) d
Strontium-90 can be directly measured or estimated through the measurement of its decay progeny
90
Y. All the test methods are based on a chemical separation step followed by beta-counting of either
90 90
Sr or Y using PC or LSC. See Table 2.
4.2 Chemical separation
Strontium is isolated from the water using precipitation, ion exchange or specific chromatographic
[9]
separation by crown ether resin (see Reference ). Yttrium can then be isolated by precipitation or
liquid–liquid extraction.
2 © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

---------------------- Page: 12 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 13160:2020
ISO/DIS 13160:2020(E)

The method chosen shall be selective with a high chemical yield. When thorium, lead or bismuth
90 90 89
radioisotopes are present at high activity levels, they may interfere with Sr, Y or Sr detection.
Other matrix constituents such as alkaline earth metals and in particular calcium for strontium, or
transuranic and lanthanide elements for yttrium, reduce the chemical yield of the extraction.
The radiochemical separation yield is calculated using a carrier such as stable strontium or yttrium,
85
or a radioactive tracer such as Sr. Techniques like atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), inductively
coupled plasma–atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP–AES) or inductively coupled plasma–mass
85
spectrometry (ICP–MS) to measure the carrier, and gamma-spectrometry to measure Sr, are
recommended. A carrier can also be measured by gravimetric methods, but the presence of inactive
elements, essentially alkaline earth elements, in the leaching solutions can lead to an overestimation of
the radiochemical separation yields, particularly for the measurement of strontium.
When stable strontium is added as a carrier, the original strontium concentration in the test sample
shall be known to determine the chemical yield.
4.3 Detection
The use of LSC, which provides spectra and permits the detection of interference from unwanted
radionuclides, is recommended in preference to PC, which does not distinguish between emissions
from different beta-emitters. When PC is used, it is recommended that the purity of the precipitate is
90 89
checked by following the change over an appropriate time of the Y or Sr activity, even though this is
time consuming.
Six test methods are presented in Annexes A, B, C, D, E, and F.
5 Chemical reagents and equipment
The necessary chemical reagents and equipment for each strontium measurement method are specified
in Annexes A, B, C, D, E, and F.
During the analyses, unless otherwise stated, use only reagents of recogniz
...

Questions, Comments and Discussion

Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.