METHOD 114 - TEST
METHODS FOR MEASURING RADIONUCLIDE EMISSION FROM STATIONARY SOURCES
2. Stack Monitoring and
Sample Collection Methods.
2.1 Radionuclides as
Particulates.
2.2.1 The Radionuclide
Tritium (H-3).
2.2.2 Radionuclides of
Iodine.
2.2.3 Radionuclides of
Argon, Krypton and Xenon.
2.2.4 Radionuclides of
Oxygen, Carbon, Nitrogen and Radon.
3. Radionuclide
Analysis Methods.
3.1 Methods for Alpha
Emitting Radionuclides
3.1.1 Method A - 1,
Radiochemistry-Alpha Spectrometry.
3.1.2 Method A - 2,
Radiochemistry-Alpha Counting.
3.1.3 Method A - 3,
Direct Alpha Spectrometry.
3.1.4 Method A - 4,
Direct Alpha Counting (Gross alpha determination).
3.1.5 Method A - 5,
Chemical Determination of Uranium.
3.1.6 Method A - 6,
Radon-222-Continuous Gas Monitor.
3.1.7 Method A - 7,
Radon-222-Alpha Track Detectors
3.2 Methods for Gaseous
Beta Emitting Radionuclides.
3.2.1 Method B - 1,
Direct Counting in Flow-Through Ionization Chambers.
3.2.2 Method B - 2,
Direct Counting With In-line or Off-line Beta Detectors.
3.3 Methods for
Non-Gaseous Beta Emitting Radionuclides.
3.3.1 Method B - 3,
Radiochemistry-Beta Counting.
3.3.2 Method B - 4,
Direct Beta Counting (Gross beta determination).
3.3.3 Method B - 5,
Liquid Scintillation Spectrometry.
3.4 Gamma Emitting
Radionuclides
3.4.1 Method G - 1,
High Resolution Gamma Spectrometry.
3.4.2 Method G - 2, Low
Resolution Gamma Spectrometry.
3.4.3 Method G - 3,
Single Channel Gamma Spectrometry.
3.4.4 Method G - 4,
Gross Gamma Counting.
3.5.4 Calibration of
Counters.
3.6 Radiochemical
Methods for Selected Radionuclides.
3.7 Applicability of
Gross Alpha and Beta Measurements to Unidentified Mixtures of Radionuclides.
This method provides
the requirements for: (1) Stack monitoring and sample collection methods
appropriate for radionuclides; (2) radiochemical methods which are used in
determining the amounts of radionuclides collected by the stack sampling and;
(3) quality assurance methods which are conducted in conjunction with these
measurements. These methods are appropriate for emissions for stationary
sources. A list of references is provided. Many different types of facilities
release radionuclides into air. These radionuclides differ in the chemical and
physical forms, half-lives and type of radiation emitted. The appropriate
combination of sample extraction, collection and analysis for an individual
radionuclide is dependent upon many interrelated factors including the mixture
of other radionuclides present.
Because of this wide range of conditions, no single method for
monitoring or sample collection and analysis of a radionuclide is applicable to
all types of facilities. Therefore, a series of methods based on
"principles of measurement" are described for monitoring and sample
collection and analysis which are applicable to the measurement of
radionuclides found in effluent streams at stationary sources. This approach
provides the user with the flexibility to choose the most appropriate
combination of monitoring and sample collection and analysis methods which are
applicable to the effluent stream to be measured.
Monitoring and sample
collection methods are described based on "principles of monitoring and
sample collection" which are applicable to the measurement of
radionuclides from effluent streams at stationary sources. Radionuclides of
most elements will be in the particulate form in these effluent streams and can
be readily collected using a suitable filter media. Radionuclides of hydrogen,
oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, the noble gases and in some circumstances iodine will
be in the gaseous form. Radionuclides of these elements will require either the
use of an in-line or off-line monitor to directly measure the radionuclides, or
suitable sorbers, condensers or bubblers to collect the radionuclides.
The extracted
effluent stream is passed through a filter media to remove the particulates. The
filter must have a high efficiency for removal of sub-micron particles. The
guidance in ANSI N13.1-1969 shall be followed in using filter media to collect
particulates (incorporated by reference-see ¤ 61.18).
Tritium in the form
of water vapor is collected from the extracted effluent sample by sorption,
condensation or dissolution techniques. Appropriate collectors may include
silica gel, molecular sieves, and ethylene glycol or water bubblers. Tritium in
the gaseous form may be measured directly in the sample stream using Method B - 1, collected as a gas sample or may be oxidized
using a metal catalyst to tritiated water and collected as described above.
Iodine is collected
from an extracted sample by sorption or dissolution techniques. Appropriate
collectors may include charcoal, impregnated charcoal, metal zeolite and
caustic solutions.
Radionuclides of
these elements are either measured directly by an in-line or off-line monitor,
or are collected from the extracted sample by low temperature sorption
techniques. Appropriate sorbers
may include charcoal or metal zeolite.
Radionuclides of
these elements are measured directly using an in-line or off-line monitor.
Radionuclides of carbon in the form of carbon dioxide may be collected by
dissolution in caustic solutions.
Means a continuous
measurement system in which the detector is placed directly in or adjacent to
the effluent stream. This may involve either gross radioactivity measurements
or specific radionuclide measurements. Gross measurements shall be made in
conformance with the conditions specified in Methods
A-4, B-2 and G-4.
Means a measurement
system in which the detector is used to continuously measure an extracted
sample of the effluent stream. This may involve either gross radioactivity
measurements or specific radionuclide measurements. Gross measurements shall be
made in conformance with the conditions specified in Methods A-4, B-2 and G-4.
Means a procedure in
which the radionuclides are removed from an extracted sample of the effluent
using a collection media. These collection media include filters, absorbers,
bubblers and condensers. The collected sample is analyzed using the methods
described in Section 3.
A series of methods
based on "principles of measurement" are described which are
applicable to the analysis of radionuclides collected from airborne effluent
streams at stationary sources. These methods are applicable only under the
conditions stated and within the limitations described. Some methods specify
that only a single radionuclide be present in the sample or the chemically
separated sample. This condition should be interpreted to mean that no other
radionuclides are present in quantities which would interfere with the
measurement. Also identified (Table 1) are methods for
a selected list of radionuclides. The listed radionuclides are those which are
most commonly used and which have the greatest potential for causing dose to
members of the public. Use of methods based on principles of measurement other
than those described in this section must be approved in advance of use by the
Administrator. For radionuclides not listed in Table 1, any of the described
methods may be used provided the user can demonstrate that the applicability
conditions of the method have been met. The type of method applicable to the
analysis of a radionuclide is dependent upon the type of radiation emitted,
i.e., alpha, beta or gamma. Therefore, the methods described below are grouped
according to principles of measurements for the analysis of alpha, beta and
gamma emitting radionuclides.
Principle: The element of interest is separated from other
elements, and from the sample matrix using radiochemical techniques. The
procedure may involve precipitation, ion exchange, or solvent extraction.
Carriers (elements chemically similar to the element of interest) may be used.
The element is deposited on a planchet in a very thin film by electro
deposition or by coprecipitation on a very small amount of carrier, such as
lanthanum fluoride. The deposited element is then counted with an alpha
spectrometer. The activity of the nuclide of interest is measured by the number
of alpha counts in the appropriate energy region. A correction for chemical
yield and counting efficiency is made using a standardized radioactive nuclide
(tracer) of the same element. If a radioactive tracer is not available for the
element of interest, a predetermined chemical yield factor may be used.
Applicability: This method is applicable for determining the
activity of any alpha-emitting radionuclide, regardless of what other
radionuclides are present in the sample provided the chemical separation step
produces a very thin sample and removes all other radionuclides which could
interfere in the spectral region of interest. APHA-605(2), ASTM-D-3972(13).
Principle: The element of interest is separated from other
elements, and from the sample matrix using radiochemistry. The procedure may
involve precipitation, ion exchange, or solvent extraction. Carriers (elements
chemically similar to the element of interest) may be used. The element is
deposited on a planchet in a thin film and counted with a alpha counter. A
correction for chemical yield (if necessary) is made. The alpha count rate
measures the total activity of all emitting radionuclides of the separated
element.
Applicability: This method is applicable for the measurement of
any alpha-emitting radionuclide, provided no other alpha emitting radionuclide
is present in the separated sample. It may also be applicable for determining
compliance, when other radionuclides of the separated element are present,
provided that the calculated emission rate is assigned to the radionuclide
which could be present in the sample that has the highest dose conversion factor.
IDO-12096(18).
Principle: The sample, collected on a suitable filter, is
counted directly on an alpha spectrometer. The sample must be thin enough and collected
on the surface of the filter so that any absorption of alpha particle energy in
the sample or the filter, which would degrade the spectrum, is minimal.
Applicability: This method is applicable to simple mixtures of
alpha emitting radionuclides and only when the amount of particulates collected
on the filter paper are relatively small and the alpha spectra is adequately
resolved. Resolutions should be 50 keV (FWHM) or better, ASTM-D-3084(16).
Principle: The sample, collected on a suitable filter, is
counted with an alpha counter. The sample must be thin enough so that
self-absorption is not significant and the filter must be of such a nature that
the particles are retained on the surface.
Applicability: Gross alpha determinations may be used to
measure emissions of specific radionuclides only (1) when it is known that the
sample contains only a single radionuclide, or the identity and isotopic ratio
of the radionuclides in the sample are well-known, and (2) measurements using
either Method A - 1, A-2 or A-5 have shown that this method provides a
reasonably accurate measurement of the emission rate. Gross alpha measurements
are applicable to unidentified mixtures of radionuclides only for the purposes
and under the conditions described in Section 3.7.
APHA-601(3), ASTM-D-1943(10).
Principle: Uranium may be measured chemically by either colorimetry
or fluorometry. In both procedures, the sample is dissolved, the uranium is
oxidized to the hexavalent form and extracted into a suitable solvent.
Impurities are removed from the solvent layer. For colorimetry,
dibenzoylmethane is added, and the uranium is measured by the absorbance in a
colorimeter. For fluorometry, a portion of the solution is fused with a sodium
fluoride-lithium fluoride flux and the uranium is determined by the ultraviolet
activated fluorescence of the fused disk in a fluorometer.
Applicability: This method is applicable to the measurements of
emission rates of uranium when the isotopic ratio of the uranium radionuclides
is well known. ASTM-E-318(15), ASTM-D2907(14).
Principle: Radon-222 is measured directly in a continuously
extracted sample stream by passing the air stream through a calibrated
scintillation cell. Prior to the scintillation cell, the air stream is treated
to remove particulates and excess moisture. The alpha particles from radon-222
and its decay products strike a zinc sulfide coating on the inside of the
scintillation cell producing light pulses. The light pulses are detected by a
photomultiplier tube which generates electrical pulses. These pulses are processed
by the system electronics and the read out is in pCi/l of radon-222.
Applicability: This method is applicable to the measurement of
radon-222 in effluent streams which do not contain significant quantities of
radon-220. Users of this method should calibrate the monitor in a radon
calibration chamber at least twice per year. The background of the monitor
should also be checked periodically by operating the instrument in a low radon
environment. EPA 520/1-89-009(24).
Principle: Radon-222 is measured directly in the effluent
stream using alpha track detectors (ATD). The alpha particles emitted by
radon-222 and its decay products strike a small plastic strip and produce
submicron damage tracks. The plastic strip is placed in a caustic solution that
accentuates the damage tracks which are counted using a microscope or automatic
counting system. The number of tracks per unit area is correlated to the radon
concentration in air using a conversion factor derived from data generated in a
radon calibration facility.
Applicability: Prior approval from EPA is required for use of
this method. This method is only applicable to effluent streams which do not contain
significant quantities of radon-220, unless special detectors are used to
discriminate against radon-220. This method may be used only when ATDs have
been demonstrated to produce data comparable to data obtained with Method A -
6. Such data should be submitted to EPA when requesting approval for the use of
this method. EPA 520/1-89-009(24).
Principle: An
ionization chamber containing a specific volume of gas which flows at a given
flow rate through the chamber is used. The sample (effluent stream sample) acts
as the counting gas for the chamber. The activity of the radionuclide is
determined from the current measured in the ionization chamber.
Applicability: This
method is applicable for measuring the activity of a gaseous beta-emitting
radionuclide in an effluent stream that is suitable as a counting gas, when no
other beta-emitting nuclides are present. DOE/EP-0096(17), NCRP-58(23).
Principle: The beta detector is placed directly in the
effluent stream (in-line) or an extracted sample of the effluent stream is
passed through a chamber containing a beta detector (offline). The activities
of the radionuclides present in the effluent stream are determined from the
beta count rate, and a knowledge of the radionuclides present and the
relationship of the gross beta count rate and the specific radionuclide
concentration.
Applicability: This method is applicable only to radionuclides
with maximum beta particle energies greater then 0.2 MeV. This method may be
used to measure emissions of specific radionuclides only when it is known that
the sample contains only a single radionuclide or the identity and isotopic
ratio of the radionuclides in the effluent stream are well known. Specific
radionuclide analysis of periodic grab samples may be used to identify the
types and quantities of radionuclides present and to establish the relationship
between specific radionuclide analyses and gross beta count rates. This method
is applicable to unidentified mixtures of gaseous radionuclides only for the
purposes and under the conditions described in Section 3.7.
Principle: The element of interest is separated from other
elements, and from the sample matrix by radiochemistry. This may involve
precipitation, distillation, ion exchange, or solvent extraction. Carriers
(elements chemically similar to the element of interest) may be used. The
element is deposited on a planchet, and counted with a beta counter.
Corrections for chemical yield, and decay (if necessary) are made. The beta
count rate determines the total activity of all radionuclides of the separated
element. This method may also involve the radiochemical separation and counting
of a daughter element, after a suitable period of in-growth, in which case it is
specific for the parent nuclide.
Applicability: This method is applicable for measuring the
activity of any beta-emitting radionuclide, with a maximum energy greater than
0.2 MeV, provided no other radionuclide is present in the separated sample.
APHA-608(5).
Principle: The sample, collected on a suitable filter, is
counted with a beta counter. The sample must be thin enough so that
self-absorption corrections can be made.
Applicability: Gross beta measurements are applicable only to
radionuclides with maximum beta particle energies greater than 0.2 MeV. Gross
beta measurements may be used to measure emissions of specific radionuclides
only (1) when it is known that the sample contains only a single radionuclide,
and (2) measurements made using Method B - 3 show reasonable agreement with the
gross beta measurement. Gross beta measurements are applicable to mixtures of
radionuclides only for the purposes and under the conditions described in
Section 3.7. APHA-602(4), ASTM-D-1890(11).
Principle: An aliquot of a collected sample or the result
of some other chemical separation or processing technique is added to a liquid
scintillation "cocktail" which is viewed by photomultiplier tubes in
a liquid scintillation spectrometer. The spectrometer is adjusted to establish
a channel or "window" for the pulse energy appropriate to the nuclide
of interest. The activity of the nuclide of interest is measured by the
counting rate in the appropriate energy channel. Corrections are made for
chemical yield where separations are made.
Applicability: This method is applicable to any beta-emitting
nuclide when no other radionuclide is present in the sample or the separated
sample provided that it can be incorporated in the scintillation cocktail. This
method is also applicable for samples which contain more than one radionuclide
but only when the energies of the beta particles are sufficiently separated so
that they can be resolved by the spectrometer. This method is most applicable
to the measurement of low-energy beta emitters such as tritium and carbon-14.
APHA-609(6), EML-LV-539-17(19).
Principle: The sample is counted with a high resolution
gamma detector, usually either a Ge(Li) or a high purity Ge detector, connected
to a multichannel analyzer or computer. The gamma emitting radionuclides in the
sample are measured from the gamma count rates in the energy regions
characteristic of the individual radionuclide. Corrections are made for counts
contributed by other radionuclides to the spectral regions of the radionuclides
of interest. Radiochemical separations may be made prior to counting but are
usually not necessary.
Applicability: This method is applicable to the measurement of
any gamma emitting radionuclide with gamma energies greater than 20 keV. It can
be applied to complex mixtures of radionuclides. The samples counted may be in
the form of particulate filters, absorbers, liquids or gases. The method may
also be applied to the analysis of gaseous gamma emitting radionuclides
directly in an effluent stream by passing the stream through a chamber or cell
containing the detector. ASTM-3649(9), IDO-12096(18).
Principle: The sample is counted with a low resolution
gamma detector, a thallium activated sodium iodide crystal. The detector is coupled
to a photomultiplier tube and connected to a multichannel analyzer. The gamma
emitting radionuclides in the sample are measured from the gamma count rates in
the energy regions characteristic of the individual radionuclides. Corrections
are made for counts contributed by other radionuclides to the spectral regions
of the radionuclides of interest. Radiochemical separation may be used prior to
counting to obtain less complex gamma spectra if needed.
Applicability: This method is applicable to the measurement of
gamma emitting radionuclides with energies greater than 100 keV. It can be
applied only to relatively simple mixtures of gamma emitting radionuclides. The
samples counted may be in the form of particulate filters, absorbers, liquids
or gas. The method can be applied to the analysis of gaseous radionuclides
directly in an effluent stream by passing the gas stream through a chamber or
cell containing the detector. ASTM-D-2459(12), EMSL-LV-0539-17(19).
Principle: The sample is counted with a thallium activated
sodium iodide crystal. The detector is coupled to a photomultiplier tube
connected to a single channel analyzer. The activity of a gamma emitting
radionuclide is determined from the gamma counts in the energy range for which
the counter is set.
Applicability: This method is applicable to the measurement of
a single gamma emitting radionuclide. It is not applicable to mixtures of
radionuclides. The samples counted may be in the form of particulate filters,
absorbers, liquids or gas. The method can be applied to the analysis of gaseous
radionuclides directly in an effluent stream by passing the gas stream through
a chamber or cell containing the detector.
Principle: The sample is counted with a gamma detector
usually a thallium activated sodium iodine crystal. The detector is coupled to
a photomultiplier tube and gamma rays above a specific threshold energy level
are counted.
Applicability: Gross gamma measurements may be used to measure
emissions of specific radionuclides only when it is known that the sample
contains a single radionuclide or the identity and isotopic ratio of the
radionuclides in the effluent stream are well known. When gross gamma
measurements are used to determine emissions of specific radionuclides periodic
measurements using Methods G-1 or G-2 should be made to demonstrate that the
gross gamma measurements provide reliable emission data. This method may be
applied to analysis of gaseous radionuclides directly in an effluent stream by
placing the detector directly in or adjacent to the effluent stream or passing
an extracted sample of the effluent stream through a chamber or cell containing
the detector.
All of the above
methods with the exception of Method A - 5 involve counting the radiation
emitted by the radionuclide. Counting methods applicable to the measurement of
alpha, beta and gamma radiations are listed below. The equipment needed and the
counting principles involved are described in detail in ASTM-3648(8).
- Gas Flow
Proportional Counters. The alpha particles cause ionization in the counting gas and the resulting
electrical pulses are counted. These counters may be windowless or have very
thin windows.
- Scintillation
Counters. The alpha particles transfer energy to a scintillator resulting in a
production of light photons which strike a photomultiplier tube converting the
light photons to electrical pulses which are counted. The counters may involve
the use of solid scintillation materials such as zinc sulfide or liquid
scintillation solutions.
- Solid-State
Counters. Semiconductor materials, such as silicon surface-barrier p-n
junctions, act as solid ionization chambers. The alpha particles interact which
the detector producing electron hole pairs. The charged pair is collected by an
applied electrical field and the resulting electrical pulses are counted.
- Alpha
Spectrometers. Semiconductor detectors used in conjunction with multichannel
analyzers for energy discrimination.
- Ionization
Chambers. These chambers contain the beta-emitting nuclide in gaseous form. The
ionization current produced is measured.
- Geiger-Muller (GM)
Counters-or Gas Flow Proportional Counters. The beta particles cause ionization
in the counting gas and the resulting electrical pulses are counted.
Proportional gas flow counters which are heavily shielded by lead or other
metal, and provided with an anti-coincidence shield to reject cosmic rays, are
called low background beta counters.
- Scintillation
Counters. The beta particles transfer energy to a scintillator resulting in a
production of light photons, which strike a photomultiplier tube converting the
light photon to electrical pulses which are counted. This may involve the use
of anthracene crystals, plastic scintillator, or liquid scintillation solutions
with organic phosphors.
- Liquid
Scintillation Spectrometers. Liquid scintillation counters which use two
photomultiplier tubes in coincidence to reduce background counts. This counter
may also electronically discriminate among pulses of a given range of energy.
- Low-Resolution
Gamma Spectrometers. The gamma rays interact with thallium activated sodium
iodide or cesium iodide crystal resulting in the release of light photons which
strike a photomultiplier tube converting the light pulses to electrical pulses
proportional to the energy of the gamma ray. Multi-channel analyzers are used
to separate and store the pulses according to the energy absorbed in the
crystal.
- High-Resolution
gamma Spectrometers. Gamma rays interact with a lithium-drifted (Ge(Li)) or
high-purity germanium (HPGe) semiconductor detectors resulting in a production of
electron-hole pairs. The charged pair is collected by an applied electrical
field. A very stable low noise preamplifier amplifies the pulses of electrical
charge resulting from the gamma photon interactions. Multichannel analyzers or
computers are used to separate and store the pulses according to the energy
absorbed in the crystal.
- Single Channel
Analyzers. Thallium activated sodium iodide crystals used with a single window
analyzer. Pulses from the photomultiplier tubes are separated in a single predetermined
energy range.
Counters are
calibrated for specific radionuclide measurements using a standard of the
radionuclide under either identical or very similar conditions as the sample to
be counted. For gamma spectrometers a series of standards covering the energy
range of interest may be used to construct a calibration curve relating gamma
energy to counting efficiency. In those cases where a standard is not available
for a radionuclide, counters may be calibrated using a standard with energy
characteristics as similar as possible to the radionuclide to be measured. For
gross alpha and beta measurements of the unidentified mixtures of
radionuclides, alpha counters are calibrated with a natural uranium standard
and beta counters with a cesium-137 standard. The standard must contain the
same weight and distribution of solids as the samples, and be mounted in an
identical manner. If the samples contain variable amounts of solids,
calibration curves relating weight of solids present to counting efficiency are
prepared. Standards other than those prescribed may be used provided it can be
shown that such standards are more applicable to the radionuclide mixture
measured.
Methods for a
selected list of radionuclides are listed in Table 1. The radionuclides listed
are those which are most commonly used and which have the greatest potential
for causing doses to members of the public. For radionuclides not listed in
Table 1, methods based on any of the applicable "principles of
measurement" described in Section 3.1 through 3.4 may be used.
Gross alpha and beta
measurements may be used as a screening measurement as a part of an emission
measurement program to identify the need to do specific radionuclide analyses
or to confirm or verify that unexpected radionuclides are not being released in
significant quantities. Gross alpha (Method A - 4) or gross beta (Methods B-2
or B-4) measurements may also be used for the purpose of comparing the measured
concentrations in the effluent stream with the limiting "Concentration Levels
for Environmental Compliance" in Table 2 of appendix E. For unidentified
mixtures, the measured concentration value shall be compared with the lowest
environmental concentration limit for any radionuclide which is not known to be
absent from the effluent stream.
Table
1-List of Approved Methods for Specific Radionuclides
_____________________________________________________________
Each facility
required to measure their radionuclide emissions shall conduct a quality assurance
program in conjunction with the radionuclide emission measurements. This
program shall assure that the emission measurements are representative, and are
of known precision and accuracy and shall include administrative controls to
assure prompt response when emission measurements indicate unexpectedly large
emissions. The program shall consist of a system of policies, organizational
responsibilities, written procedures, data quality specifications, audits,
corrective actions and reports. This quality assurance program shall include
the following program elements:
4.1 The
organizational structure, functional responsibilities, levels of authority and
lines of communications for all activities related to the emissions measurement
program shall be identified and documented.
4.2 Administrative
controls shall be prescribed to ensure prompt response in the event that
emission levels increase due to unplanned operations.
4.3 The sample
collection and analysis procedures used in measuring the emissions shall be
described including where applicable:
4.3.1 Identification
of sampling sites and number of sampling points, including the rationale for
site selections.
4.3.2 A description
of sampling probes and representativeness of the samples.
4.3.3 A description
of any continuous monitoring system used to measure emissions, including the
sensitivity of the system, calibration procedures and frequency of calibration.
4.3.4 A description
of the sample collection systems for each radionuclide measured, including
frequency of collection, calibration procedures and frequency of calibration.
4.3.5 A description
of the laboratory analysis procedures used for each radionuclide measured,
including frequency of analysis, calibration procedures and frequency of
calibration.
4.3.6 A description
of the sample flow rate measurement systems or procedures, including
calibration procedures and frequency of calibration.
4.3.7 A description
of the effluent flow rate measurement procedures, including frequency of
measurements, calibration procedures and frequency of calibration.
4.4 The objectives of
the quality assurance program shall be documented and shall state the required
precision, accuracy and completeness of the emission measurement data including
a description of the procedures used to assess these parameters. Accuracy is
the degree of agreement of a measurement with a true or known value. Precision
is a measure of the agreement among individual measurements of the same
parameters under similar conditions. Completeness is a measure of the amount of
valid data obtained compared to the amount expected under normal conditions.
4.5 A quality control
program shall be established to evaluate and track the quality of the emissions
measurement data against preset criteria. The program should include where
applicable a system of replicates, spiked samples, split samples, blanks and
control charts. The number and frequency of such quality control checks shall
be identified.
4.6 A sample tracking
system shall be established to provide for positive identification of samples
and data through all phases of the sample collection, analysis and reporting
system. Sample handling and preservation
procedures shall be established to maintain the integrity of samples
during collection, storage and analysis.
4.7 Periodic internal
and external audits shall be performed to monitor compliance with the quality
assurance program. These audits shall be performed in accordance with written
procedures and conducted by personnel who do not have responsibility for
performing any of the operations being audited.
4.8 A corrective
action program shall be established including criteria for when corrective
action is needed, what corrective actions will be taken and who is responsible
for taking the corrective action.
4.9 Periodic reports
to responsible management shall be prepared on the performance of the emissions
measurements program. These reports should include assessment of the quality of
the data, results of audits and description of corrective actions.
4.10 The quality
assurance program should be documented in a quality assurance project plan
which should address each of the above requirements.
(1) American National
Standards Institute, "Guide to Sampling Airborne Radioactive Materials in
Nuclear Facilities", ANSIN13.1-1969, American National Standards
Institute, New York, New York (1969).
(2) American Public
Health Association, "Methods of Air Sampling", 2nd
Edition, Method 605, "Tentative Method of Analysis for Plutonium Content
of Atmospheric Particulate Matter". American Public Health Association,
New York, NY (1977).
(3) Ibid, Method 601,
"Tentative Method of Analysis for Gross Alpha Radioactivity Content of the
Atmosphere".
(4) Ibid, Method 602,
"Tentative Method of the Analysis for Gross Beta Radioactivity Content of
the Atmosphere".
(5) Ibid, Method 608,
"Tentative Method of Analysis for Strontium90 Content of Atmospheric
Particulate Matter".
(6) Ibid, Method 609,
"Tentative Method of Analysis for Tritium Content of the Atmosphere".
(7) Ibid, Method 603,
"Tentative Method of Analysis for Iodine131 Content of the
Atmosphere".
(8) American Society
for Testing and Materials, 1986 Annual Book ASTM Standards, Designation D-3648-78,
"Standard Practices for the Measurement of Radioactivity". American
Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, PA (1986).
(9) Ibid, Designation
D-3649-85, "Standard Practice for High Resolution Gamma
Spectrometry".
(10) Ibid,
Designation D-1943-81, "Standard Test Method for Alpha Particle
Radioactivity of Water".
(11) Ibid,
Designation D-1890-81, "Standard Test Method for Beta Particle
Radioactivity of Water".
(12) Ibid,
Designation D-2459-72, "Standard Test Method for Gamma Spectrometry of
Water".
(13) Ibid,
Designation D-3972-82, "Standard Test Method for Isotopic Uranium in Water
by Radiochemistry".
(14) Ibid,
Designation D-2907-83, "Standard Test Methods for Microquantities of
Uranium in Water by Fluorometry".
(15) Ibid,
Designation E-318, "Standard Test Method for Uranium in Aqueous Solutions
by Colorimetry".
(16) Ibid,
Designation D-3084-75, "Standard Practice for Alpha Spectrometry of
Water".
(17) Corley, J.P. and
C.D. Corbit, "A Guide for Effluent Radiological Measurements at DOE
Installations", DOE/EP-0096, Pacific Northwest Laboratories, Richland,
Washington (1983).
(18) Department of
Energy, "RESL Analytical Chemistry Branch Procedures Manual",
IDO-12096, U.S. Department of Energy, Idaho Falls, Idaho (1982). (19)
Environmental Protection Agency, "Radiochemical Analytical Procedures for
Analysis of Environmental Samples", EMSL-LV0539-17, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory, Las Vegas,
Nevada (1979).
(20) Environmental
Protection Agency, "Radiochemistry Procedures Manual", EPA
520/5-84-006, Eastern Environmental Radiation Facility, Montgomery, Alabama
(1984).
(21) National Council
on Radiation Protection and Measurements, NCRP Report No. 50,
"Environmental Radiation Measurements", National Council on Radiation
Protection and Measurement, Bethesda, Maryland (1976).
(22) Ibid, Report No.
47, "Tritium Measurement Techniques" (1976).
(23) Ibid, Report No.
58 "A Handbook of Radioactivity Measurement Procedures" (1985).
(24) Environmental Protection Agency, "Indoor Radon and Radon Decay Product Measurement Protocols", EPA 520/1-89-009, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (1989).