Laboratory of Nuclear Spectroscopy

For more information: laboratory contact details on our contacts page).

Determination of indicative dose of water samples with an accredited measurement procedure “Gammaspectromterical Measurement of the Activity Concentrations of Radium Isotopes in Water”

The requirement to analyse radiological parameters in drinking water is laid down by the regulation “Quality and monitoring standards and methods of analysis for drinking water” of the Estonian Minister of Social Affairs. It includes the determination of the indicative dose, which is defined as the committed effective dose from ingestion of radionuclides (excluding tritium, potassium-40 and radon) in water (parametric value 0.10 mSv/year). In Estonia, the most significant dose contributors are radium isotopes Ra-226 and Ra-228.

We offer an accredited measurement of the activity concentration of radium isotopes Ra-226 and Ra-228 in water. Indicative dose is calculated based on the activity concentrations.

Please note that due to the specifics of the measurement methodology, the analysis takes two months. When bringing samples to the laboratory, please include the following information: contact details of the customer (telephone number, e-mail), name of the sampling point, date of sampling.

Limit of detection (MDA – minimum detectable activity)	Measurement capability
MDA(²²⁶Ra) = 20 mBq/kg	U_rel(²²⁶Ra) = 25%, k=2
MDA(²²⁸Ra) = 20 mBq/kg	U_rel(²²⁸Ra) = 17%, k=2
MDA(²²⁴Ra) = 30 mBq/kg	U_rel(²²⁴Ra) = 10%, k=2

Gammaspectrometric analysis of solid sample (not accredited)

We perform gammaspectrometrical analysis of solids to determine activities and activity concentrations of different radionuclides. For example:

artificial radionuclides – 137Cs, 134Cs, 60Co, 241Am;
naturally occurring radionuclides – 40K and nuclides from 238U and 232Th decay series.

We offer the calculation of the activity concentration index for construction materials and products.