New certified reference materials and proficiency test for environmental radioactivity measurements

A reliable determination of natural and anthropogenic
radionuclides in environmental samples is
necessary to comply with the radiation protection and
environmental regulations. This paper presents the results
of the characterisation of massic activities of natural and
anthropogenic radionuclides in soil and water matrices
produced as test items to conduct the proficiency test
ERAD-PT-2013. The proficiency test ERAD-PT-2013 was
designed to investigate analytical performance in analysing
both natural and anthropogenic radionuclides, to assist
laboratories to identify analytical problems, and to improve
the quality of measurement results. The proficiency test
items, their spectral interferences and the activity concentration
levels of the analytes were designed in a way to
enable identification of potential analytical problems.
Methodologies, data evaluation approach and evaluation of
proficiency test results for each radionuclide are described
and discussed.