SIST EN ISO 10703:2021
(Main)Water quality - Gamma-ray emitting radionuclides - Test method using high resolution gamma-ray spectrometry (ISO 10703:2021)
Water quality - Gamma-ray emitting radionuclides - Test method using high resolution gamma-ray spectrometry (ISO 10703:2021)
This document specifies a method for the physical pre-treatment and conditioning of water samples
and the determination of the activity concentration of various radionuclides emitting gamma-rays with
energies between 40 keV and 2 MeV, by gamma‑ray spectrometry according to the generic test method
described in ISO 20042.
The method is applicable to test samples of drinking water, rainwater, surface and ground water as well
as cooling water, industrial water, domestic and industrial wastewater after proper sampling, sample
handling, and test sample preparation (filtration when necessary and taking into account the amount
of dissolved material in the water). This method is only applicable to homogeneous samples or samples
which are homogeneous via timely filtration.
The lowest limit that can be measured without concentration of the sample or by using only passive
shield of the detection system is about 5·10-2 Bq/l for e.g. 137Cs1). The upper limit of the activity
corresponds to a dead time of 10 %. Higher dead times may be used but evidence of the accuracy of the
dead-time correction is required.
Depending on different factors, such as the energy of the gamma-rays, the emission probability per
nuclear disintegration, the size and geometry of the sample and the detector, the shielding, the counting
time and other experimental parameters, the sample may require to be concentrated by evaporation
if activities below 5·10-2 Bq/l need to be measured. However, volatile radionuclides (e.g. radon and
radioiodine) can be lost during the source preparation.
This method is suitable for application in emergency situations.
Wasserbeschaffenheit - Gammastrahlung emittierende Radionukliden - Verfahren mittels Gammaspektrometrie (ISO 10703:2021)
Dieses Dokument legt ein Verfahren zur physikalischen Vor- und Aufbereitung von Wasserproben und zur Bestimmung der Aktivitätskonzentration verschiedener Gammastrahlen mit Energien zwischen 40 keV und 2 MeV emittierender Radionuklide in Wasserproben mittels Gammaspektrometrie nach dem in ISO 20042 beschriebenen generischen Prüfverfahren fest.
Das Verfahren ist anwendbar auf Messproben von Trinkwasser, Regenwasser, Oberflächen- und Grundwasser sowie Kühlwasser, Brauchwasser, häuslichem und industriellem Abwasser nach ordnungsgemäßer Probenahme, Probenbehandlung und Messprobenvorbereitung (ggf. Filtration und unter Berücksichtigung des Anteils gelöster Stoffe im Wasser). Dieses Verfahren ist nur für homogene oder durch rechtzeitige Filtration homogenisierte Proben anwendbar.
Der unterste Grenzwert, der ohne Aufkonzentrierung der Probe oder nur mit passiver Abschirmung des Detektionssystems gemessen werden kann, beträgt etwa 5⋅10−2 Bq/l für z. B.137Cs . Die Obergrenze der Aktivität entspricht einer Totzeit von 10 %. Höhere Totzeiten können verwendet werden, es ist jedoch ein Nachweis über die Genauigkeit der Totzeitkorrektur erforderlich.
Abhängig von verschiedenen Faktoren, wie der Energie der Gammastrahlen und der Emissions-wahrscheinlichkeit je Kernzerfall, der Größe und Geometrie der Probe und des Detektors, der Abschirmung, der Messdauer und anderer Versuchsparameter, kann es erforderlich sein, die Probe durch Eindampfen zu konzentrieren, wenn Aktivitäten unter 5⋅10−2 Bq/l gemessen werden müssen. Flüchtige Radionuklide (z. B. Radon und Radio Iod) können während der Vorbereitung der Quelle verloren gehen.
Dieses Verfahren ist für die Anwendung in Notfallsituationen geeignet.
Qualité de l'eau - Radionucléides émetteurs gamma - Méthode d’essai par spectrométrie gamma à haute résolution (ISO 10703:2021)
Le présent document spécifie une méthode de prétraitement physique et de conditionnement d’échantillons d’eau et de détermination de l’activité volumique de différents radionucléides émetteurs gamma d’énergie comprise entre 40 keV et 2 MeV, par spectrométrie gamma conformément à la méthode d’essai générique décrite dans l’ISO 20042.
La méthode d'essai est applicable à des échantillons pour essai d'eau potable, d'eau de pluie, d'eau de surface et d'eau souterraine ainsi que d'eau de refroidissement, d'eau industrielle, d’eaux usées domestiques et industrielles après échantillonnage approprié, manipulation de l'échantillon et préparation de l'échantillon pour essai (filtration si nécessaire et en tenant compte de la quantité de matières dissoutes dans l'eau). Cette méthode ne s’applique qu’aux échantillons homogènes ou aux échantillons qui sont homogènes après filtration opportune.
La limite inférieure qui peut être mesurée sans concentration de l’échantillon ou en utilisant uniquement le blindage passif du système de détection est d’environ 5·10−2 Bq/l pour le 137Cs 1 à titre d’exemple. La limite supérieure de l’activité correspond à un temps mort de 10 %. Des temps morts plus élevés peuvent être utilisés mais la justesse de la correction du temps mort doit être prouvée.
En fonction de différents facteurs tels que l’énergie des rayonnements gamma et la probabilité d’émission par désintégration nucléaire, la taille et la géométrie de l’échantillon et du détecteur, le blindage, le temps de comptage et d’autres paramètres expérimentaux, il peut être nécessaire de concentrer l’échantillon par évaporation, s’il s’agit de mesurer des activités inférieures à 5·10−2 Bq/l. Cependant, les radionucléides volatils (par exemple, le radon et l’iode radioactif) peuvent être perdus pendant la préparation de la source.
Cette méthode est appropriée pour être appliquée aux situations d’urgence.
1La géométrie de l’échantillon : Marinelli de 3 l ; détecteur : GE HP type N d’une efficacité relative de 55 %; temps de comptage: 18 h.
Kakovost vode - Radionuklidi, ki sevajo žarke gama - Preskusna metoda z gama spektrometrijo visoke ločljivosti (ISO 10703:2021)
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST EN ISO 10703:2021
01-oktober-2021
Nadomešča:
SIST EN ISO 10703:2016
SIST ISO 10703:2010
Kakovost vode - Radionuklidi, ki sevajo žarke gama - Preskusna metoda z gama
spektrometrijo visoke ločljivosti (ISO 10703:2021)
Water quality - Gamma-ray emitting radionuclides - Test method using high resolution
gamma-ray spectrometry (ISO 10703:2021)
Wasserbeschaffenheit - Gammastrahlung emittierende Radionukliden - Verfahren mittels
Gammaspektrometrie (ISO 10703:2021)
Qualité de l'eau - Radionucléides émetteurs gamma - Méthode d’essai par spectrométrie
gamma à haute résolution (ISO 10703:2021)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 10703:2021
ICS:
13.060.60 Preiskava fizikalnih lastnosti Examination of physical
vode properties of water
17.240 Merjenje sevanja Radiation measurements
SIST EN ISO 10703:2021 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 10703:2021
---------------------- Page: 2 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 10703:2021
EN ISO 10703
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
July 2021
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 13.060.60; 17.240 Supersedes EN ISO 10703:2015
English Version
Water quality - Gamma-ray emitting radionuclides - Test
method using high resolution gamma-ray spectrometry
(ISO 10703:2021)
Qualité de l'eau - Radionucléides émetteurs gamma - Wasserbeschaffenheit - Gammastrahlung emittierende
Méthode d'essai par spectrométrie gamma à haute Radionukliden - Verfahren mittels
résolution (ISO 10703:2021) Gammaspektrometrie (ISO 10703:2021)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 28 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 10703:2021 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
---------------------- Page: 3 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 10703:2021
EN ISO 10703:2021 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
2
---------------------- Page: 4 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 10703:2021
EN ISO 10703:2021 (E)
European foreword
This document (EN ISO 10703:2021) 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 10703:2015.
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 10703:2021 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 10703:2021 without any modification.
3
---------------------- Page: 5 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 10703:2021
---------------------- Page: 6 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 10703:2021
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 10703
Third edition
2021-06
Water quality — Gamma-ray emitting
radionuclides — Test method
using high resolution gamma-ray
spectrometry
Qualité de l'eau — Radionucléides émetteurs gamma — Méthode
d’essai par spectrométrie gamma à haute résolution
Reference number
ISO 10703:2021(E)
©
ISO 2021
---------------------- Page: 7 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 10703:2021
ISO 10703:2021(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 10703:2021
ISO 10703:2021(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction .vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 2
4 Symbols . 3
5 Principle . 4
6 Reference sources . 4
6.1 Source(s) for energy calibration . 4
6.2 Reference source(s) for efficiency calibration . 5
6.2.1 General. 5
6.2.2 Reference sources for laboratory systems . 5
6.2.3 Reference sources used with numerical methods . 5
7 Reagents . 5
8 Gamma-ray spectrometry equipment . 6
8.1 General description . 6
8.2 Detector types . 6
8.3 High voltage power supply . 7
8.4 Preamplifier . 7
8.5 Cryostat or electric cooler . 7
8.6 Shielding . 7
8.7 Analogue or digital acquisition electronics . 7
8.7.1 General. 7
8.7.2 Analogue electronic (ADC) . 8
8.7.3 Digital electronic (DSP) . 8
8.8 Computer, including peripherical devices and software . 8
9 Nuclear decay data . 9
10 Sampling . 9
11 Procedure. 9
11.1 Sample preparation . 9
11.1.1 General. 9
11.1.2 Direct measurement without preparation .10
11.1.3 Evaporation without iodine retention.10
11.1.4 Evaporation with iodine retention .10
11.2 Calibration .10
11.2.1 General.10
11.2.2 Energy calibration .10
11.2.3 Efficiency calibration.11
12 Expression of results .12
12.1 Calculation of the activity concentration .12
12.1.1 General.12
12.1.2 Dead time and pile up corrections (see ISO 20042) .13
12.1.3 Decay corrections .13
12.1.4 True coincidence summing .13
12.2 Standard uncertainty .15
12.3 Decision threshold .15
12.4 Detection limit .16
12.5 Limits of the coverage intervals .16
12.5.1 Limits of the probabilistically symmetric coverage interval.16
© ISO 2021 – All rights reserved iii
---------------------- Page: 9 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 10703:2021
ISO 10703:2021(E)
12.5.2 The shortest coverage interval .17
12.6 Corrections for contributions from other radionuclides and background .17
12.6.1 General.17
12.6.2 Contribution from other radionuclides .18
12.6.3 Contribution from background .19
13 Test report .19
Annex A (informative) Example of a carrier solution which can be added to the water
sample when waste water from a nuclear power plant is investigated.21
Annex B (informative) True coincidence summing .22
Annex C (informative) Calculation of the activity concentration from a gamma spectrum
using a linear background subtraction (undisturbed peak) .24
Bibliography .26
iv © ISO 2021 – All rights reserved
---------------------- Page: 10 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 10703:2021
ISO 10703:2021(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, in collaboration with the European Committee for Standardization (CEN)
Technical Committee CEN/TC 230, Water analysis, in accordance with the Agreement on technical
cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement).
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 10703:2007), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— new common Introduction;
— Scope enlarged to emergency situation and to wastewater, upper dead time increase to 10 %;
— the sample storage conditions are in compliance with ISO 5667-3 (see Clause 10);
— modification of the reference source for calibration (see 6.2);
— calibration efficiency determination by Monte Carlo method (see 11.2.3);
— complete revision of the pulse pile up and dead time;
— complete revision of the true coincidence summing subclause (see 12.1.4);
— addition of the correction factor for dead time and pile up (see 12.1.2);
— introduction of the shortest coverage interval in accordance with the new ISO 11929 series
(see 12.5.2);
— modification of the test report (see Clause 13).
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 10703:2021
ISO 10703:2021(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
[7]
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
[8]
environment . Water bodies and drinking waters are monitored for their radioactivity content as
[9]
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
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
−1 134/137 131
guidelines for guidance level in drinking water is 10 Bq·l for Cs and I activity concentration,
−1 241 −1 210
1 Bq·l for Am and 0,1 Bq·l for Pb.
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
[9]
very low level of risk and which is not expected to give rise to any detectable adverse health effects .
[10]
In the event of a nuclear emergency, the WHO Codex guideline levels mentioned that the activity
−1 134/137 −1 131
concentration for infant food might not be greater than 1 000 Bq·kg for Cs, 100 Bq·kg for I
−1 241
and 1 Bq·kg for Am. For food other than infant food, the activity concentration might not be greater
−1 134/137 −1 131 −1 241
than 1 000 Bq·kg for Cs, 100 Bq·kg for I and 10 Bq·kg for Am.
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
[10]
(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
[11][12]
or for an emergency situation .
vi © ISO 2021 – All rights reserved
---------------------- Page: 12 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 10703:2021
ISO 10703:2021(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
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 2021 – All rights reserved vii
---------------------- Page: 13 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 10703:2021
---------------------- Page: 14 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 10703:2021
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 10703:2021(E)
Water quality — Gamma-ray emitting radionuclides — Test
method using high resolution 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
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 specifies a method for the physical pre-treatment and conditioning of water samples
and the determination of the activity concentration of various radionuclides emitting gamma-rays with
energies between 40 keV and 2 MeV, by gamma-ray spectrometry according to the generic test method
described in ISO 20042.
The method is applicable to test samples of drinking water, rainwater, surface and ground water as well
as cooling water, industrial water, domestic and industrial wastewater after proper sampling, sample
handling, and test sample preparation (filtration when necessary and taking into account the amount
of dissolved material in the water). This method is only applicable to homogeneous samples or samples
which are homogeneous via timely filtration.
The lowest limit that can be measured without concentration of the sample or by using only passive
-2 137 1)
shield of the detection system is about 5·10 Bq/l for e.g. Cs . The upper limit of the activity
corresponds to a dead time of 10 %. Higher dead times may be used but evidence of the accuracy of the
dead-time correction is required.
Depending on different factors, such as the energy of the gamma-rays, the emission probability per
nuclear disintegration, the size and geometry of the sample and the detector, the shielding, the counting
time and other experimental parameters, the sample may require to be concentrated by evaporation
-2
if activities below 5·10 Bq/l need to be measured. However, volatile radionuclides (e.g. radon and
radioiodine) can be lost during the source preparation.
This method is suitable for application in emergency situations.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that som
...
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN ISO 10703:2020
01-april-2020
Kakovost vode - Radionuklidi, ki sevajo žarke gama - Preskusna metoda z gama
spektrometrijo (ISO/DIS 10703:2020)
Water quality - Gamma-ray emitting radionuclides - Test method using gamma-ray
spectrometry (ISO/DIS 10703:2020)
Wasserbeschaffenheit - Bestimmung der Aktivitätskonzentration von Radionukliden -
Verfahren mittels hochauflösender Gammaspektrometrie (ISO/DIS 10703:2020)
Qualité de l'eau - Radionucléides émetteurs gamma - Méthode d'essai par spectrométrie
gamma (ISO/DIS 10703:2020)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN ISO 10703
ICS:
13.060.60 Preiskava fizikalnih lastnosti Examination of physical
vode properties of water
17.240 Merjenje sevanja Radiation measurements
oSIST prEN ISO 10703:2020 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 10703:2020
---------------------- Page: 2 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 10703:2020
DRAFT INTERNATIONAL STANDARD
ISO/DIS 10703
ISO/TC 147/SC 3 Secretariat: AFNOR
Voting begins on: Voting terminates on:
2020-02-24 2020-05-18
Water quality — Gamma-ray emitting radionuclides — Text
method using gamma-ray spectrometry
Qualité de l'eau — Radionucléides émetteurs gamma — Méthode d'essai par spectrométrie gamma
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 10703:2020(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 10703:2020
ISO/DIS 10703:2020(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 10703:2020
ISO/DIS 10703:2020(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction .vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 2
4 Symbols and units . 3
5 Principle . 4
6 Reference sources . 4
7 Reagents . 4
8 Gamma spectrometry equipment . 5
8.1 General . 5
8.2 Detector types . 5
8.3 High voltage power supply . 5
8.4 Preamplifier . 5
8.5 Cryostat, capable of keeping the detector close to the temperature of liquid nitrogen. 5
8.6 Shielding . 6
8.7 Main amplifier . 6
8.8 Multichannel analyser or multichannel buffer . 6
8.9 Computer, including peripherical devices and software . 6
9 Nuclear decay data . 7
10 Sampling . 7
11 Procedure. 8
11.1 Sample preparation . 8
11.1.1 General. 8
11.1.2 Direct measurement without preparation . 8
11.1.3 Evaporation without iodine retention. 8
11.1.4 Evaporation with iodine retention . 8
11.2 Calibration . 8
12 Expression of results . 9
12.1 Calculation of the activity concentration . 9
12.1.1 General. 9
12.1.2 Decay corrections .10
12.1.3 Summation effects or coincidence losses corrections .10
12.2 Standard uncertainty .11
12.3 Decision threshold .11
12.4 Detection limit .11
12.5 Limits of the coverage intervals .12
12.5.1 Limits of the probabilistically symmetric coverage interval.12
12.5.2 The shortest coverage interval .12
12.6 Corrections for contributions from other radionuclides and background .12
12.6.1 General.12
12.6.2 Contribution from other radionuclides .13
12.6.3 Contribution from background .14
13 Test report .14
Annex A (informative) Example of a carrier solution which can be added to the water
sample when waste water from a nuclear power plant is investigated.16
Annex B (informative) Calculation of the activity concentration from a gamma spectrum
using a linear background subtraction (undisturbed peak) .17
© ISO 2020 – All rights reserved iii
---------------------- Page: 5 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 10703:2020
ISO/DIS 10703:2020(E)
Bibliography .19
iv © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved
---------------------- Page: 6 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 10703:2020
ISO/DIS 10703:2020(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 third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 10703:2007), which has been technically
revised.
© ISO 2020 – All rights reserved v
---------------------- Page: 7 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 10703:2020
ISO/DIS 10703:2020(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.
— Natural radionuclides, including 40K, 3H, 14C, and those originating from the thorium and uranium
decay series, in particular 226Ra, 228Ra, 234U, 238U, and 210Pb, 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,
curium), 3H, 14C, 90Sr, 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
guidelines for guidance level in drinking water is x Bq·l for x 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 −1
concentration might not be greater than X Bq·l for infant food and X Bq·l for food other than infant
food, including organically bound tritium.
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 10703:2020
ISO/DIS 10703:2020(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 10703:2020
---------------------- Page: 10 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 10703:2020
DRAFT INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/DIS 10703:2020(E)
Water quality — Gamma-ray emitting radionuclides — Text
method using gamma-ray spectrometry
WARNING — Persons using this document should be familiar with normal laboratory practice.
This International Standard 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 trained staff.
1 Scope
This document specifies a method for the physical pre-treatment and conditioning of water samples
and the determination of the activity concentration of various radionuclides emitting gamma rays
with energies 40 keV < E < 2 MeV, by gamma-ray spectrometry according to the generic test method
[9]
described in ISO 20042 .
NOTE The determination of the activity concentration of radionuclides emitting gamma rays with energy
below 40 keV and above 2 MeV is also possible within the scope of this document, provided both the calibration of
the measuring system and the shielding are adapted to this purpose.
This document is only applicable to homogeneous samples. The lowest limit that can be measured as
-2
such, i.e. without dilution or concentration of the sample or anti Compton device is about 5.10 Bq/l for
137
eg Cs. The upper limit of the activity corresponds to a dead time of 5%.
Depending on different factors, such as the energy of the gamma rays and the emission probability per
nuclear disintegration, the size and geometry of the sample and the detector, the shielding, the counting
time and other experimental parameters, the sample is concentrated by evaporation when activities
-2
below 5.10 Bq/l have to be measured. However, volatile radionuclides (e.g. radon and radioiodine) can
be lost during the source preparation.
When the dead time is higher than 5%, the sample is either diluted or an aliquot of the sample is taken
or the source to detector distance is increased or a correction for pile-up effects is applied.
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 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 3696, Water for analytical laboratory use — Specification and test methods
ISO 80000-10, Quantities and units — Part 10: Atomic and nuclear physics
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 5667-14, Water quality — Sampling — Part 14: Guidance on quality assurance and quality control of
environmental water sampling and handling
ISO 20042:2019, Measurement of radioactivity — Gamma-ray emitting radionuclides — Generic test
method using gamma-ray spectrometry
© ISO 2020 – All rights reserved 1
---------------------- Page: 11 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 10703:2020
ISO/DIS 10703:2020(E)
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 11929-3, Determination of the characteristic limits (decision threshold, detection limit and limits of
the coverage interval) for measurements of ionizing radiation — Fundamentals and application — Part 3:
Applications to unfolding methods
ISO/IEC 17025, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
ISO/IEC Guide 98-3:2008, Uncertainty of measurement — Part 3: Guide to the expression of uncertainty in
me a s ur ement (GUM: 1995)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 80000-10 and the
following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org
3.1
blank sample
container of an identical composition to the one used for the water test sample filled with radon free
demineralized water
3.2
dead time
time during spectrum acquisition (real time) during which pulses are not recorded or processed
Note 1 to entry: Dead time is given by real time minus live time.
Note 2 to entry: The time is given in seconds.
3.3
dead time correction
correction to be applied to the observed number of pulses in order to take into account the number of
pulses lost during the dead time
3.4
decay constant
λ
quotient of dP by dt, where dP is the probability of a given
nucleus undergoing a spontaneous nuclear transition from that energy state in the time interval dt
dP 1 dN
λ== −
dtN dt
where N is the number of nuclei of concern existing at time t
3.5
efficiency
under stated conditions of detection, the ratio of the number of detected gamma-photons to the number
of gamma-photons of the same type emitted by the radiation source in the same time interval
2 © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved
---------------------- Page: 12 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 10703:2020
ISO/DIS 10703:2020(E)
3.6
energy resolution
measure, at a given energy, of the smallest difference between the energy of two gamma rays which can
be distinguished by the apparatus used for gamma-ray spectrometry
3.7
full energy peak
peak of spectral response curve corresponding to the total absorption of the photon energy in the
sensitive detector volume by the photoelectric effect or by consecutive photon interactions of pair
production (only for photon energy > 1 022 keV), Compton scattering and photoelectric absorption
3.8
gamma cascade
two or more different gamma-photons emitted successively within the resolution time, from one
nucleus when it de-excites through one or more intermediate energy levels
3.9
gamma radiation
electromagnetic radiation emitted in the process of nuclear transition or particle annihilation
3.10
gamma-ray spectrometry
method of measuring gamma rays yielding the energy spectrum of the gamma radiation
3.11
pile-up
processing by a radiation spectrometer of pulses resulting from the simultaneous absorption of
particles, or photons, originating from different decaying nuclei, in the radiation detector
Note 1 to entry: As a result, they are counted as one single particle or photon with an energy between the
individual energies and the sum of these energies.
3.12
transition probability
fraction of the nuclei which disintegrates in a specific way
4 Symbols and units
For the purposes of this document, the symbols given in ISO 80000-10 and the following apply.
V Volume of the water sample for test, in litres
A Activity of each radionuclide in calibration source, at the calibration time, in
becquerels
1)
cc,
Activity concentration of each radionuclide, without and with corrections, ex-
AA,c
pressed in becquerels per litre
1)
“Volumic activity” is an alternative name for “Activity concentration".
t Test sample spectrum counting time, in seconds
g
t Background spectrum counting time, in seconds
0
t Time between the reference time and the measuring time
i
t Calibration spectrum counting time, in seconds
s
nn,,n Number of counts in the net area of the peak, at energy E, in the test sample spec-
NE,,NE0sNE,
trum, in the background spectrum and in the calibration spectrum, respectively
nn,,n
Number of counts in the gross area of the peak, at energy E, in the test sample spec-
gg,,EE0 gs,E
trum, in the background spectrum and in the calibration spectrum, respectively
© ISO 2020 – All rights reserved 3
---------------------- Page: 13 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 10703:2020
ISO/DIS 10703:2020(E)
nn,,n Number of counts in the background of the peak, at energy E, in the test sample
bb,,EE0 bs,E
spectrum in the background spectrum and in the calibration spectrum, respectively
ε Efficiency of the detector at energy E at actual measurement geometry
E
P Probability of the emission of a gamma ray with energy E of each radionuclide,
E
per decay
λ
Decay constant of each radionuclide, in reciprocal seconds
uc(),(uc ) Standard uncertainty associated with the measurement result, without and with
AA,c
corrections, in becquerel per litre
U
Expanded uncertainty calculated by Uk=⋅uc() with k = 1, 2., in becquerel
A
per litre
∗∗
Decision threshold, without and with corrections, in becquerel per litre
cc,
AA,c
# #
Detection limit, without and with corrections, in becquerel per litre
cc,
AA,c
Lower and upper limits of the probabilistically symmetric coverage interval, in
cc,
AA
becquerel per litre
<>
Lower and upper limits of the shortest coverage interval, in becquerel per litre
cc,
AA
5 Principle
Gamma rays cause electron-hole pairs when interacting with matter. When a
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.