Water quality - Radon-222 - Part 2: Test method using gamma-ray spectrometry (ISO 13164-2:2013)

ISO 13164-2:2013 specifies a test method for the determination of radon-222 activity concentration in a sample of water following the measurement of its short-lived decay products by direct gamma-spectrometry of the water sample.
The radon-222 activity concentrations, which can be measured by this test method utilizing currently available gamma-ray instruments, range from a few becquerels per litre to several hundred thousand becquerels per litre for a 1 l test sample.
This test method can be used successfully with drinking water samples. The laboratory is responsible for ensuring the validity of this test method for water samples of untested matrices.
An annex gives indications on the necessary counting conditions to meet the required sensitivity for drinking water monitoring.

Wasserbeschaffenheit - Radon-222 - Teil 2: Verfahren mittels Gammaspektrometrie (ISO 13164-2:2013)

Dieser Teil von ISO 13164 legt ein Verfahren zur Bestimmung der Radon 222 Aktivitätskonzentration in einer Wasserprobe nach der Messung ihrer kurzlebigen Zerfallsprodukte durch direkte Gammaspektro¬metrie der Wasserprobe fest (siehe Anhang A).
Die Radon 222 Aktivitätskonzentrationen, die mit diesem Verfahren unter Verwendung derzeit verfügbarer Gammastrahleninstrumente gemessen werden können, reichen von wenigen Becquerel je Liter bis zu mehreren hunderttausend Becquerel je Liter für eine 1 l Analysenprobe.
Dieses Prüfverfahren kann erfolgreich bei Trinkwasserproben eingesetzt werden. Das Labor ist dafür verantwortlich, die Gültigkeit dieses Prüfverfahrens für Wasserproben ungeprüfter Matrizen sicherzustellen.
Anhang B enthält Angaben zu den erforderlichen Zählbedingungen, um die für die Trinkwasser-überwachung erforderliche Empfindlichkeit zu erreichen.

Qualité de l'eau - Radon 222 - Partie 2: Méthode d'essai par spectrométrie gamma (ISO 13164-2:2013)

L'ISO 13164-2:2013 spécifie une méthode d'essai pour déterminer l'activité volumique du radon 222 dans un échantillon d'eau par la mesure des descendants à vie courte du radon 222 par spectrométrie gamma directe de l'échantillon.
Les valeurs d'activité volumique du radon 222, qui peuvent être mesurées par cette méthode d'essai à l'aide d'instruments à spectrométrie gamma actuellement disponibles, sont comprises entre quelques becquerels par litre et plusieurs centaines de milliers de becquerels par litre pour un échantillon d'essai de 1 l.
Cette méthode d'essai peut être utilisée avec succès sur des échantillons d'eau potable. Il appartient au laboratoire de garantir la validité de cette méthode d'essai pour des échantillons d'eau provenant de matrices non soumises à essai.
Une annexe donne une indication sur les conditions de comptage nécessaires pour obtenir la sensibilité requise pour la surveillance de l'eau potable.

Kakovost vode - Radon Rn-222 - 2. del: Preskusna metoda z gama spektrometrijo (ISO 13164-2:2013)

General Information

Status
Published
Public Enquiry End Date
01-Aug-2019
Publication Date
07-Apr-2020
Technical Committee
Current Stage
6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
Start Date
31-Mar-2020
Due Date
05-Jun-2020
Completion Date
08-Apr-2020

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SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST EN ISO 13164-2:2020
01-maj-2020
Kakovost vode - Radon Rn-222 - 2. del: Preskusna metoda z gama spektrometrijo
(ISO 13164-2:2013)
Water quality - Radon-222 - Part 2: Test method using gamma-ray spectrometry (ISO
13164-2:2013)
Wasserbeschaffenheit - Radon-222 - Teil 2: Verfahren mittels Gammaspektrometrie
(ISO 13164-2:2013)
Qualité de l'eau - Radon 222 - Partie 2: Méthode d'essai par spectrométrie gamma (ISO
13164-2:2013)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 13164-2:2020
ICS:
13.060.60 Preiskava fizikalnih lastnosti Examination of physical
vode properties of water
17.240 Merjenje sevanja Radiation measurements
SIST EN ISO 13164-2:2020 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 13164-2:2020

---------------------- Page: 2 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 13164-2:2020


EN ISO 13164-2
EUROPEAN STANDARD

NORME EUROPÉENNE

February 2020
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 13.060.60; 17.240; 13.280
English Version

Water quality - Radon-222 - Part 2: Test method using
gamma-ray spectrometry (ISO 13164-2:2013)
Qualité de l'eau - Radon 222 - Partie 2: Méthode d'essai Wasserbeschaffenheit - Radon-222 - Teil 2: Verfahren
par spectrométrie gamma (ISO 13164-2:2013) mittels Gammaspektrometrie (ISO 13164-2:2013)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 6 October 2019.

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
© 2020 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 13164-2:2020 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

---------------------- Page: 3 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 13164-2:2020
EN ISO 13164-2:2020 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3

2

---------------------- Page: 4 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 13164-2:2020
EN ISO 13164-2:2020 (E)
European foreword
The text of ISO 13164-2:2013 has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 147 "Water quality”
of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and has been taken over as EN ISO 13164-
2:2020 by 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 August 2020, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by August 2020.
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.
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 13164-2:2013 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 13164-2:2020 without any
modification.

3

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SIST EN ISO 13164-2:2020

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SIST EN ISO 13164-2:2020
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 13164-2
First edition
2013-09-01
Water quality — Radon-222 —
Part 2:
Test method using gamma-ray
spectrometry
Qualité de l’eau — Radon 222 —
Partie 2: Méthode d’essai par spectrométrie gamma
Reference number
ISO 13164-2:2013(E)
©
ISO 2013

---------------------- Page: 7 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 13164-2:2020
ISO 13164-2:2013(E)

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT
© ISO 2013
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, 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
Case postale 56 • CH-1211 Geneva 20
Tel. + 41 22 749 01 11
Fax + 41 22 749 09 47
E-mail copyright@iso.org
Web www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

---------------------- Page: 8 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 13164-2:2020
ISO 13164-2:2013(E)

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms, definitions and symbols . 2
3.1 Terms and definitions . 2
3.2 Symbols . 2
4 Principle . 3
5 Sampling . 3
5.1 General requirement . 3
5.2 Sampling requirement . 3
5.3 Sample volume . 4
5.4 Container characteristics . 4
6 Transportation and storage . 4
7 Detection . 4
8 Measurement procedure . 5
9 Quality assurance and quality control programme . 5
9.1 General . 5
9.2 Influence quantities . 5
9.3 Instrument verification. 6
9.4 Method verification . 6
9.5 Demonstration of analyst capability . 6
10 Expression of results . 6
10.1 Activity concentration . 6
10.2 Standard uncertainty of the activity concentration . 7
10.3 Decision threshold . 7
10.4 Detection limit . 8
10.5 Confidence limits. 8
11 Test report . 8
Annex A (informative) Sample spectra .10
Annex B (informative) Sample accuracy and precision data .12
Bibliography .13
© ISO 2013 – All rights reserved iii

---------------------- Page: 9 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 13164-2:2020
ISO 13164-2:2013(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, 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, 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.
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 147, Water quality, Subcommittee SC 3,
Radioactivity measurements.
ISO 13164 consists of the following parts, under the general title Water quality — Radon-222:
— Part 1: General principles
— Part 2: Test method using gamma-ray spectrometry
— Part 3: Test method using emanometry
The following part is under preparation:
— Part 4: Test method using two-phase liquid scintillation counting
iv © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

---------------------- Page: 10 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 13164-2:2020
ISO 13164-2:2013(E)

Introduction
Radioactivity from several naturally occurring and human-made sources is present throughout the
environment. Thus, water bodies (surface waters, groundwaters, sea waters) can contain radionuclides
of natural and human-made origin.
— Natural radionuclides, including potassium-40, and those of the thorium and uranium decay series,
in particular radium-226, radium-228, uranium-234, uranium-238, lead-210, can be found in water
for natural reasons (e.g. desorption from the soil and wash-off by rain water) or releases 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,
curium), tritium, carbon-14, strontium-90 and gamma-emitting radionuclides can also be found in
natural waters as they can be authorized to be routinely released into the environment in small
quantities in the effluent discharged from nuclear fuel cycle facilities and following their used in
unsealed form in medicine or industry. They are also found in water due to the past fallout of the
explosion in the atmosphere of nuclear devices and the accidents at Chernobyl and Fukushima.
Drinking-water can thus contain radionuclides at activity concentration which could present a risk to
human health. In order to assess the quality of drinking-water (including mineral waters and spring
waters) with respect to its radionuclide content and to provide guidance on reducing health risks by
taking measures to decrease radionuclide activity concentrations, water resources (groundwater, river,
lake, sea, etc.) and drinking water are monitor for their radioactivity content as recommended by the
World Health Organization (WHO).
Standard test methods for radon-222 activity concentrations in water samples are needed by test
laboratories carrying out such measurements in fulfillment of national authority requirements.
Laboratories may have to obtain a specific accreditation for radionuclide measurement in drinking
water samples.
−1
The radon activity concentration in surface water is very low, usually below 1 Bq l . In groundwater, the
−1 −1 −1
activity concentration varies from 1 Bq l up to 50 Bq l in sedimentary rock aquifers, from 10 Bq l
−1 −1 −1
up to 300 Bq l in wells, and from 100 Bq l up to 1 000 Bq l in crystalline rocks. The highest activity
concentrations are normally measured in rocks with high concentration of uranium (Reference [7]).
High variations in the activity concentrations of radon in aquifers have been observed. Even in a region
with relatively uniform rock types, some well water may exhibit radon activity concentration greatly
higher than the average value for the same region. Significant seasonal variations have also been
recorded (see Annex A).
Water may dissolve chemical substances as it passes from the soil surface to an aquifer or spring waters.
The water may pass through or remain for some time in rock, some formations of which may contain a
high concentration of natural radionuclides. Under favourable geochemical conditions, the water may
selectively dissolve some of these natural radionuclides.
Guidance on radon in drinking-water supplies provided by WHO in 2008 suggests that controls should be
−1
implemented if the radon concentration of drinking-water for public water supplies exceeds 100 Bq l .
It also recommended that any new, especially public, drinking-water supply using groundwater should
be tested prior to being used for general consumption and that if the radon concentration exceeds
−1
100 Bq l , treatment of the water source should be undertaken to reduce the radon levels to well below
that level (Reference [8]).
This International Standard is one of a series dealing with the measurement of the activity concentration
of radionuclides in water samples.
The origin of radon-222 and its short-lived decay products in water and other measurement methods
are described generally in ISO 13164-1.
© ISO 2013 – All rights reserved v

---------------------- Page: 11 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 13164-2:2020

---------------------- Page: 12 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 13164-2:2020
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 13164-2:2013(E)
Water quality — Radon-222 —
Part 2:
Test method using gamma-ray spectrometry
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
ensure compliance with any national regulatory conditions.
IMPORTANT — It is absolutely essential that tests conducted in accordance with this document
be carried out by suitably qualified staff.
1 Scope
This part of ISO 13164 specifies a test method for the determination of radon-222 activity concentration
in a sample of water following the measurement of its short-lived decay products by direct gamma-
spectrometry of the water sample (see Annex A).
The radon-222 activity concentrations, which can be measured by this test method utilizing currently
available gamma-ray instruments, range from a few becquerels per litre to several hundred thousand
becquerels per litre for a 1 l test sample.
This test method can be used successfully with drinking water samples. The laboratory is responsible
for ensuring the validity of this test method for water samples of untested matrices.
Annex B gives indication on the necessary counting conditions to meet the required sensitivity for
drinking w
...

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN ISO 13164-2:2019
01-julij-2019
Kakovost vode - Radon Rn-222 - 2. del: Preskusna metoda z gama spektrometrijo
(ISO 13164-2:2013)
Water quality - Radon-222 - Part 2: Test method using gamma-ray spectrometry (ISO
13164-2:2013)
Wasserbeschaffenheit - Radon-222 - Teil 2: Verfahren mittels Gammaspektrometrie
(ISO 13164-2:2013)
Qualité de l'eau - Radon 222 - Partie 2: Méthode d'essai par spectrométrie gamma (ISO
13164-2:2013)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN ISO 13164-2
ICS:
13.060.60 Preiskava fizikalnih lastnosti Examination of physical
vode properties of water
17.240 Merjenje sevanja Radiation measurements
oSIST prEN ISO 13164-2:2019 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 13164-2:2019

---------------------- Page: 2 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 13164-2:2019
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 13164-2
First edition
2013-09-01
Water quality — Radon-222 —
Part 2:
Test method using gamma-ray
spectrometry
Qualité de l’eau — Radon 222 —
Partie 2: Méthode d’essai par spectrométrie gamma
Reference number
ISO 13164-2:2013(E)
©
ISO 2013

---------------------- Page: 3 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 13164-2:2019
ISO 13164-2:2013(E)

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT
© ISO 2013
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, 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
Case postale 56 • CH-1211 Geneva 20
Tel. + 41 22 749 01 11
Fax + 41 22 749 09 47
E-mail copyright@iso.org
Web www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

---------------------- Page: 4 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 13164-2:2019
ISO 13164-2:2013(E)

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms, definitions and symbols . 2
3.1 Terms and definitions . 2
3.2 Symbols . 2
4 Principle . 3
5 Sampling . 3
5.1 General requirement . 3
5.2 Sampling requirement . 3
5.3 Sample volume . 4
5.4 Container characteristics . 4
6 Transportation and storage . 4
7 Detection . 4
8 Measurement procedure . 5
9 Quality assurance and quality control programme . 5
9.1 General . 5
9.2 Influence quantities . 5
9.3 Instrument verification. 6
9.4 Method verification . 6
9.5 Demonstration of analyst capability . 6
10 Expression of results . 6
10.1 Activity concentration . 6
10.2 Standard uncertainty of the activity concentration . 7
10.3 Decision threshold . 7
10.4 Detection limit . 8
10.5 Confidence limits. 8
11 Test report . 8
Annex A (informative) Sample spectra .10
Annex B (informative) Sample accuracy and precision data .12
Bibliography .13
© ISO 2013 – All rights reserved iii

---------------------- Page: 5 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 13164-2:2019
ISO 13164-2:2013(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, 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, 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.
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 147, Water quality, Subcommittee SC 3,
Radioactivity measurements.
ISO 13164 consists of the following parts, under the general title Water quality — Radon-222:
— Part 1: General principles
— Part 2: Test method using gamma-ray spectrometry
— Part 3: Test method using emanometry
The following part is under preparation:
— Part 4: Test method using two-phase liquid scintillation counting
iv © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

---------------------- Page: 6 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 13164-2:2019
ISO 13164-2:2013(E)

Introduction
Radioactivity from several naturally occurring and human-made sources is present throughout the
environment. Thus, water bodies (surface waters, groundwaters, sea waters) can contain radionuclides
of natural and human-made origin.
— Natural radionuclides, including potassium-40, and those of the thorium and uranium decay series,
in particular radium-226, radium-228, uranium-234, uranium-238, lead-210, can be found in water
for natural reasons (e.g. desorption from the soil and wash-off by rain water) or releases 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,
curium), tritium, carbon-14, strontium-90 and gamma-emitting radionuclides can also be found in
natural waters as they can be authorized to be routinely released into the environment in small
quantities in the effluent discharged from nuclear fuel cycle facilities and following their used in
unsealed form in medicine or industry. They are also found in water due to the past fallout of the
explosion in the atmosphere of nuclear devices and the accidents at Chernobyl and Fukushima.
Drinking-water can thus contain radionuclides at activity concentration which could present a risk to
human health. In order to assess the quality of drinking-water (including mineral waters and spring
waters) with respect to its radionuclide content and to provide guidance on reducing health risks by
taking measures to decrease radionuclide activity concentrations, water resources (groundwater, river,
lake, sea, etc.) and drinking water are monitor for their radioactivity content as recommended by the
World Health Organization (WHO).
Standard test methods for radon-222 activity concentrations in water samples are needed by test
laboratories carrying out such measurements in fulfillment of national authority requirements.
Laboratories may have to obtain a specific accreditation for radionuclide measurement in drinking
water samples.
−1
The radon activity concentration in surface water is very low, usually below 1 Bq l . In groundwater, the
−1 −1 −1
activity concentration varies from 1 Bq l up to 50 Bq l in sedimentary rock aquifers, from 10 Bq l
−1 −1 −1
up to 300 Bq l in wells, and from 100 Bq l up to 1 000 Bq l in crystalline rocks. The highest activity
concentrations are normally measured in rocks with high concentration of uranium (Reference [7]).
High variations in the activity concentrations of radon in aquifers have been observed. Even in a region
with relatively uniform rock types, some well water may exhibit radon activity concentration greatly
higher than the average value for the same region. Significant seasonal variations have also been
recorded (see Annex A).
Water may dissolve chemical substances as it passes from the soil surface to an aquifer or spring waters.
The water may pass through or remain for some time in rock, some formations of which may contain a
high concentration of natural radionuclides. Under favourable geochemical conditions, the water may
selectively dissolve some of these natural radionuclides.
Guidance on radon in drinking-water supplies provided by WHO in 2008 suggests that controls should be
−1
implemented if the radon concentration of drinking-water for public water supplies exceeds 100 Bq l .
It also recommended that any new, especially public, drinking-water supply using groundwater should
be tested prior to being used for general consumption and that if the radon concentration exceeds
−1
100 Bq l , treatment of the water source should be undertaken to reduce the radon levels to well below
that level (Reference [8]).
This International Standard is one of a series dealing with the measurement of the activity concentration
of radionuclides in water samples.
The origin of radon-222 and its short-lived decay products in water and other measurement methods
are described generally in ISO 13164-1.
© ISO 2013 – All rights reserved v

---------------------- Page: 7 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 13164-2:2019

---------------------- Page: 8 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 13164-2:2019
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 13164-2:2013(E)
Water quality — Radon-222 —
Part 2:
Test method using gamma-ray spectrometry
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
ensure compliance with any national regulatory conditions.
IMPORTANT — It is absolutely essential that tests conducted in accordance with this document
be carried out by suitably qualified staff.
1 Scope
This part of ISO 13164 specifies a test method for the determination of radon-222 activity concentration
in a sample of water following the measurement of its short-lived decay products by direct gamma-
spectrometry of the water sample (see Annex A).
The radon-222 activity concentrations, which can be measured by this test method utilizing currently
available gamma-ray instruments, range from a few becquerels per litre to several hundred thousand
becquerels per litre for a 1 l test sample.
This test method can be used successfully with drinking water samples. The laboratory is responsible
for ensuring the validity of this test method for water samples of untested matrices.
Annex B gives indication on the necessary counting conditions to meet the required sensitivity for
drinking water monitoring.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of 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 5667-1, Water quality — Sampling — Part 1: Guidance on the design of sampling programmes and
sampling techniques
ISO 5667-3, Water quality — Sampling — Part 3: Preservation and handling of water samples
ISO 10703, Water quality — Determination of the activity concentration of radionuclides — Method by high
resolution gamma-ray spectrometry
ISO 13164-1, Water quality — Radon-222 — Part 1: General principles
ISO/IEC 17025, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
ISO 80000-10, Quantities and units — Part 10: Atomic and nuclear physics
IEC 60973, Test procedures for germanium gamma-ray detectors
IEC 61151, Nuclear instrumentation — Amplifiers and preamplifiers used with detectors of ionizing
radiation — Test procedures
© ISO 2013 – All rights reserved 1

---------------------- Page: 9 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 13164-2:2019
ISO 13164-2:2013(E)

IEC 61452, Nuclear instrumentation — Measurement of gamma-ray emission rates of radionuclides —
Calibration and use of germanium spectrometers
3 Terms, definitions and symbols
3.1 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 80000-10 and ISO 13164-1 apply.
3.2 Symbols
For the purposes of this document, the symbols defined in ISO 80000-10, ISO 13164-1, and the
following apply.
A activity of each radionuclide in calibration source, at the calibration time, in
becquerels
c activity concentration of radon in water, in becquerels per litre
A

c
decision threshold, in becquerels per litre
A
#
c
detection limit, in becquerels per litre
A
 
c c lower and upper limits of the confidence interval,
...

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