5th AFTLC Meeting, 1 - 2 September 2014,...

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5th AFTLC Meeting, 1 - 2 September 2014, Myammar

CONTENTS 1.Introduction 2.Laboratory Overview 3.Chernobyl 4.Fukushima 5.Training 6.Quality Control 7.Acknowledgement

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Introduction Radioactive: An unstable nuclei undergoing decay (transform into another element) by emitting radiation. Radiation: Energy emitted and transmitted in the form of electromagnetic waves or particles.

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Ionizing radiation – radiation that carry sufficient energy to cause ionization when pass through matter. Such ionization process when taking place in human body may cause damage to tissue and organs.

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Introduction: Sources of radioactivity in food

1. Natural (mainly primordial K-40, U & Th decay series and cosmogenic H-3, C-14 etc)

2. Artificial Industrial activities (eg. nuclear power, mineral/nuclear fuel reprocessing plants, hospitals) Nuclear weapons testing in 1950s/60s Nuclear reactor accidents eg. Three Mile Island (1979), Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima (2011)

Many kinds of radionuclides can be discharged following a major nuclear emergency. Radionuclides generated in nuclear installations and that could be significant for the food chain include the followings:

hydrogen (H-3), carbon (C-14), technetium (Tc-99), sulphur (S-35), cobalt (Co-60) strontium (Sr-89 and Sr-90), ruthenium (Ru-103 and Ru-106), iodine (I-131 and I-129), uranium (U-235) plutonium (Pu-238, Pu-239 and Pu-240), caesium (Cs-134 and Cs-137), cerium (Ce-103), iridium (Ir-192), and americium (Am-241).

8 INFOSAN: Information Note 20th March 2011

Of immediate concern is iodine-131, it is distributed over a wide area, found in water and on crops and is rapidly transferred from contaminated feed into milk. However, iodine-131 has a relatively short half-live and will decay within a few weeks.

In contrast, radioactive caesium which can also be detected early on, is longer-lived (Cs-134 has a half life of about 2 years and Cs-137 has a half life of about 30 years) and can remain in the environment for a long-time. Radioactive caesium is also relatively rapidly transferred from feed to milk. Uptake of caesium into food is also of long term concern.


Other radioisotopes that could be of long-term concern if released, are strontium and plutonium.

Strontium-90 has a half life of about 28 years and plutonium has a much longer half life than that (Pu-238: 88 years, Pu-239: 24100 years, Pu-240: 6564 years). However, both strontium and plutonium are relatively immobile in the environment and are of concern more locally, thus it is unlikely to cause a problem in international food trade in the immediate and medium-term

BUT it will be a concern if the contaminated foods are exported to other countries.


Record-high 740,000 Bq/kg of radioactive cesium has been detected in a fish caught within near the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, equivalent to 7,400 times the state-set limit deemed safe for human consumption, according to TEPCO, →possible hot spots under the sea.

11 The Japan Times: 16th March 2013

• The greenling measuring 38 cm in length and weighing 564 grams was caught near a water intake of the four reactor units in the power station’s port on Feb. 2013

• Greenlings are bottom fish that live around rock reefs in coastal waters.

• "One possible reason is that there is some kind of hot spot (on the sea floor and the contamination in the fish) got this high by eating crabs and prawns that live there."

Caesium in Fisheries Products (Apr 2014) Monitoring report at May 2014 Summary Report Full Report

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Organisation Structure

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YEAR GROUP NAME STAFF ACTIVITIES

1984 Radiochemistry Analysis Unit /

Radiation Safety and Health

Department(KSK)

8 (3 RO, 2 EO, 3

LA)

Monitoring radiation and radioactivity in surrounding area at MINT (PUSPATI), radioactive waste disposal site at Bukit Kledang, Ipoh and Reactor Hall.

Radioactivity analysis in imported foods (1986) Radioactivity measurement services in food products and

issuing radioactive free certificate for exporting purpose to regional countries, West Asia and North Africa countries (1987 – now)

Gross alpha and gross beta radioactivity measurement services in drinking water (1990 – now)

1994 Radiochemistry and Environment

Group (RAS) / Industrial

Technology Division

16 (5 RO, 3 EO, 8

LA)

R & D in environment pollution i.e. air, marine, techniques development

Analysis services – radioactivity (food and environmental samples) and non radioactivity (mineral and environmental samples)

2005 RAS / BAS 21 (7 RO, 1 EO, 1

TA, 10 LA, 2OA)

R & D in radioactivities field i.e. Marine Radioactivity Database in Malaysia

Analysis services as above

2014 RAS/BAS 28 (11 RO, 4 EO, 1 TA, 8 LA,

2OA)

R & D in radioactivities field i.e. Establishment of Anthropogenic Radioactivity Concentration in Peninsular Malaysia (EEZ) Marine Environment

Analysis services as above

Laboratory’s History & Responsibility

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Position RAS staffs

Permanent Contract/ Temporary Total

Research Officer 10 1 11 Assistant Scientific Officer 4 0 4

Assistant Engineer 0 1 1

Lab Assistant 7 3 10 Administrative Assistant 0 2 2

Total 21 7 28

Radiochemistry and Environment Laboratory

Gamma Spectrometry

Laboratory (GSS)

Alpha Spectrometry

Laboratory (ASS)

Low Background Gross Alpha/Gross Beta Laboratory

(GAB)

Liquid Scintillation Counter Laboratory

(LSC)

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Type of Equipment Model Quantity (unit)

Gamma Spectrometry System (HPGe) Canberra N-Type (Low Energy Photon)

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Canberra P-Type (2 Well, 1 Co-axial) 3

Ortec P-Type (Co-axial) 6

Alpha Spectrometry System Canberra Alpha Analyst 1 (12 detectors)

Ortec Octete 3 (24 detectors)

Low Background Gross Alpha/ Beta Counting System

Canberra 2

Tennelec 1

Liquid scintillation counter Packard Tricarb 2500 1

Quantulus 1220 (ultra low) 1

Pulveriser Rocklabs Ring Mill 1

Fritsch 1

Jaw Crusher Fritsch 1

Shredder Fritsch 1

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Gamma Spectrometer - 10 Gross Alpha/Beta Counter - 3

Alpha Spectrometer - 4 Liq. Scint. Counter -2

Radioactive measurement: Gamma (K-40, Ra-226, Ra-228, Cs-134, Cs-137, I-

131, etc) Beta (H-3, C-14, Sr-90) Alpha (Pu-238, Pu-239, Pu-240, U-238, U-235, U-

234, Th-232, Th-230, Th-228, Am-241, Po-210) Gross Alpha Beta

Research: Environmental related projects, marine studies, method development

Services: Provide radioactivity measurement in various type of sample matrices (food, environment, etc) for government & private sectors

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Measurement of Gamma radionuclides in food & environmental samples

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Chemical Quench

Colour Quench

β hν 3Η

Measurement of Tritium (3H) water samples using LSC

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90Sr

Alpha

Measurement of Alpha ( 90Sr) radionuclides in environmental samples

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Measurement of Gross Alpha/Beta in bottled mineral water

Food samples analyzed for the past 5 years YEAR GSS GAB LSC ASS 2009 1521 (2981) 258 (1618) 42 (237) - (503) 2010 1498 (3308) 254 (1907) 162 ( 169) 5 (1046) 2011 2712 (4131) 172 (2476) 10 (34) - (873) 2012 1567 (3491) 410 (2040) 12 (317) -(1489) 2013 1595 (3709) 462 (1955) 4 (24) -(1338)

Note: GSS – Gamma Spectrometry System; GAB – Low Background Gross Alpha/Beta Counting System; LSC – Liquid Scintillation Counter; ASS – Alpha Spectrometry System; •Increasing figure in 2010 for LSC is due to request by EU and 2011 for GSS is due to Fukushima incident •Number in bracket indicating total number of samples

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Materials/ Product Tested

Type of test/Properties Measured/ Range of Measurement

Standard Test Method/Equipment/ Techniques

Food samples Qualitative and quantitative determination of gamma emitters radionuclides such as Cs-134 and Cs-137 in various matrices for photon energies of 40 keV up to 2.0 MeV

In house method (Ref: RAS-TM-01) based on Technical Report Serial No. 295 IAEA 1989 & AOAC 996.05, 2000)

Environmental samples (e.g.: water, soil, sediment, flora and fauna)

Qualitative and quantitative determination of gamma emitters radionuclides such as Ra-226, Ra-228 (or Ac-228) and K-40 in various matrices for photon energies of 40 keV up to 2.0 MeV

In house method (Ref: RAS-TM-01) based on Technical Report Serial No. 295 IAEA 1989

Industrial samples (e.g.: smoke detector, raw material and waste/effluent material)

Qualitative and quantitative determination of gamma emitters radionuclides such as Am-241, Ra-226, Ra-228 (or Ac-228) and K-40 in various matrices for photon energies of 40 keV up to 2.0 MeV

In house method (Ref: RAS-TM-01) based on Technical Report Serial No. 295 IAEA 1989

The scope and field of applications of the laboratory covers gamma radioactivity testing in food, environmental and industrial samples according to standard of Malaysian Standard, MS: ISO/IEC 17025:2005, Department of Standards Malaysia.

Gamma: Example some Importing Countries require Radioactivity Certificate

Bangladesh India Pakistan Sri Lanka

Brunei Indonesia Vietnam

Bahrain Jordan Lebonan Oman Saudi Arabia Syria Qatar Yemen

Italy Macedonia RUSSIA Sweden Turkey Ukraine

Belize Mexico

China JAPAN Korea Angola

Congo Egypt Kenya Libya Nigeria Sudan Tanzania Togo 29

RAS has good relations with various international nuclear organisations and is the only laboratory from Malaysia in IAEA’s ALMERA (Analytical Laboratories for the Measurement of Environmental Radioactivity)networks

List of ALMERA Labs

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http://gallery.spaceman.ca/v/interests/chernobyl/CHERNOBYL_002.jpg.html?g2_GALLERYSID=eb49ea19982e87ea248921e492f65e11

Food/food products Cs-134 (Bq/kg)

Cs-137 (Bq/kg)

Total (Bq/kg)

Milk & milk products, Mineral water

60 120 180

Vegetables & fruits

108 216 324

Fish, sea food & meat

180 360 540

Cereals & cereal products

84 168 252

-36- * MOH/Dr Fatimah bte Mohd Amin, Warta Nuclear Malaysia,

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Radioactivity analysis in imported foods

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Kuantiti Sampel Tercemar Mengikut Aras Keradioaktifan Cs-137 & Cs-134

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863

30 20 0

708

1274

210

921914 39 10 6 57 27 1 0 0

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1986 1987 1988 1989 1990

Tahun

Kua

ntiti

Sam

pel T

erce

mar

<10 Bq/kg 10-100 Bq/kg 100-180 Bq/kg >180 Bq/kg

Samples taken by MOH from various entry points in Malaysia › Airports › Sea ports › Land borders

Most results reported to MOH within the same day as sample received

So far the radioactivity of all tested samples do not exceed the permissible limit

41 MOH – Ministry of Health Malaysia

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Max value

Cs-134 Cs-137 I-131

Bq/kg 11.98 ± 3.27

11.96 ± 3.09 4.94 ± 1.43

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Max value

Cs-134 Cs-137 I-131

Bq/kg 54.39 ± 21.98 82.65 ± 16.10 11.22 ± 3.86

Cs-134, Cs-137 I-131 Permissible Limit (Bq/kg) 1000 100

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Sr-90 Pu-239, Am-241 Permissible Limit (Bq/kg) 100 10

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Year Programme/Organisation Duration No of Participant

2010 Industrial Training 13th Dec 2010 – 4th March 2011 1

2012 Industrial Training June – July 2012 1

Industrial Training August - Sept 2012 1

2013

Atomic Energy Licensing Board July 2013 3

Monitoring and Analysis of Food Contamination 4th Dec 2013 8

FTC Environmental Monitoring 16th – 20th Dec 2013 15

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Year Programme/Organisation Duration No of Participant

2011

IAEA Fellowship (Yemen) 10th -21st Jan 2011 1

IAEA Post Graduate Educational Course 08 11th Apr – 20th May 2011 29

Radioactivity Measurement in Food for Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology

9th – 12th Aug 2011 2

2012

Food Safety Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Brunei

9th – 13th July 2012 2

IAEA Post Graduate Educational Course 09 17 Sep 2012 - 9 Mar 2013 23

2013

Workshop on Nuclear Techniques in Agriculture for Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA)

20th – 31st May 2013 15

IAEA Post Graduate Educational Course 10 10th June – 6th Dec 2013 24

IAEA Fellowship (Yemen) 2nd Sep – 29th Nov 2013 1

Interlaboratory Studies/Proficiency Test – yearly

Blind Test for staff - yearly Use of Reference Materials –

daily/weekly

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Our laboratory code = 66 Parameter Our Value

(x ± σ Bq) Target Value (x ± σ Bq)

Remarks

Co-57 30.5 ± 1.7 18.2 ± 0.21 Filter 01 Cs-134 16.4 ± 1.2 18.3 ± 0.25 Cs-137 51.3 ± 3.3 48.0 ± 0.6 Eu-152 34.0 ± 2.6 40.3 ± 0.6 Am-241 62.2 ± 3.5 51.9 ± 0.6 Co-57 2.5 ± 0.3 1.61 ± 0.06 Filter 02 Cs-134 0.4 ± 0.1 0.50 ± 0.02 Cs-137 0.6 ± 0.1 0.50 ± 0.02 Eu-152 0.9 ± 0.2 1.06 ± 0.04 Am-241 2.0 ± 0.2 1.58 ± 0.06 Co-57 33.5 ± 1.9 18.2 ± 0.21 Filter 03 Cs-134 17.4 ± 1.3 18.3 ± 0.25 Cs-137 55.0 ± 4.4 48.0 ± 0.6 Eu-152 35.9 ± 3.1 40.3 ± 0.6 Am-241 85.2 ± 5.4 51.9 ± 0.6 Co-60 83.2 ± 6.0 85.8 ± 0.9 Filter 04 Ba-133 115.3 ± 7.3 107.5 ± 1.9

ALMERA IAEA-CU-2009-04 proficiency test on determination of gamma emitting radionuclides on simulated air filters

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EC Interlaboratory Comparison on Radionuclides in Soil organized by Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) (2010). Our laboratory is one of the eighteen laboratories nominated by IAEA to participate in this program.


(x ± 2σ Bq/kg) Target Value (x ± 2σ Bq/kg)

Remarks

K-40 400 ± 62 410 ± 21 GSS Sr-90 95.7 ± 5.6 74.5 ± 10.1 GAB Cs-137 3600 ± 520 3565 ± 134 GSS Pb-212 24.6 ± 4 Indicative value (Th-232) GSS Bi-212 25.4 ± 4.4 Indicative value (Th-232) GSS Pb-214 24.3 ± 4.4 Indicative value (Ra-226) GSS Bi-214 19.7 ± 3.2 Indicative value (Ra-226) GSS Ra-226 20.4 ± 3.4 19.0 ± 2.3 GSS Th-230 21.5 ± 2.6 20.9 ± 2.3 ASS Th-232 19.6 ± 2.2 21.0 ± 2.7 ASS U-234 22.1 ± 3 25.2 ± 1.0 ASS U-235 0.81 ± 0.08 1.10 ± 0.11 ASS U-238 18.1 ± 2.6 24.3 ± 1.0 ASS Pu-238 0.034 ± 0.006 ASS Pu-239+240 0.334 ± 0.04 ASS Ra-228 19.5 ± 3.6 Additional

Radionuclides Reported

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IAEA-CU-2010-03 World wide proficiency test on the determination of natural radionuclides in water and Ra-226 in soil (Still waiting for results from IAEA)


(x ± σ Bq/kg) Target Value (x ± σ Bq/kg)

Remarks

U-234 Sample 01 U-238 Ra-226 < 0.50 U-234 Sample 02 U-238 Ra-226 0.72 ± 0.09 U-234 Sample 03 U-238 Ra-226 1.31 ± 0.16 Gross alpha Sample 04 Gross beta Gross alpha Sample 05 Gross beta Ra-226 18.4 ± 1.1 Sample 06

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Intercomparison exercise in the frame of IAEA RAS 7019: Harmonizing Nuclear and Isotopic Techniques for Marine Pollution Management at the Regional Level (2011)

Parameter Our Value (x ± σ Bq/kg)

Target Value (x ± σ Bq/kg)

Remarks

Pb-210 21.3 ± 2.9 21.41 ± 0.39 A Cs-137 23.3 ± 3.1 23.87 ± 0.87 A Ra-226 22.6 ± 3.1 22.70 ± 0.90 A

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IAEA-TEL-2012-03 Worldwide open proficiency test on the determination of radionucldies in soil, hay and water Our laboratory code = 257

Parameter Our Value (x ± 2σ Bq/kg)


Remarks

Am-241 < 2.8 < A.Sample 01 Ce-139 < 4.0 < A Co-57 < 1.2 < A Co-60 < 0.6 < A Cr-51 < 2.1 < A Cs-134 69.0 ± 5.1 82.6 ± 0.71 N Cs-137 < 0.5 < A Eu-152 111.6 ± 8.1 118.6 ± 1.0 A Sr-85 < 4.8 < A Zn-65 < 5.4 < A Am-241 132.1 ± 11.4 120.9 ± 0.74 A.Sample 02 Ce-139 < 4.0 < A Co-57 < 1.2 < A Co-60 < 0.6 < A Cr-51 < 2.1 < A Cs-134 < 0.8 < A Cs-137 103.0 ± 8.2 102.5 ± 0.75 A Eu-152 < 1.2 < A Sr-85 < 4.8 < A Zn-65 < 5.4 < A

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IAEA-TEL-2012-03 Worldwide open proficiency test on the determination of radionucldies in soil, hay and water (continue)


(x ± 2σ Bq/kg) Target Value (x ± σ Bq/kg)

Remarks

Co-60 203.1 ± 8.2 201.4 ± 1.8 A.Sample 03 Cs-137 125.6 ± 5.1 125.8 ± 0.8 A Cs-134 295 ± 20 306 ± 20 A.Sample 04 Cs-137 860 ± 65 785 ± 24 A Ac-228 28.5 ± 3.1 32.4 ± 1.6 A.Sample 05 Am-241 < 2.8 1.78 ± 0.1 N Cs-137 102.0 ± 7.2 118.6 ± 2.9 A K-40 211.5 ± 18.4 207.7 ± 8.3 A Pb-210 491.0 ± 31.1 595 ± 19 A Pb-212 29.4 ± 1.2 31.0 ± 1.2 A Po-210 517.0 ± 11.5 573 ± 25 A Pu-239+240 3.5 ± 0.1 4.74 ± 0.1 N Sr-90 51.7 ± 3.3 30.4 ± 2.6 N Tl-208 9.5 ± 0.5 11.5 ± 0.6 A U-238 26.7 ± 1.0 23.6 ± 0.7 W

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IAEA RCA RAS/7/021 Proficiency Test 2013 Sr-90, Cs-134 and Cs-137 in spiked Mediterranean seawater

Parameter Our Value (x ± 2σ Bq/kg)


Remarks

Cs-134 0.28 ± 0.04 0.3375 ± 0.0027 N Cs-137 0.42 ± 0.06 0.428 ± 0.005 A Sr-90 0.11 ± 0.01 0.1759 ± 0.0021 N

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Comparison with Atomic Energy Authority in Sri Lanka


AEA (x ± σ Bq/kg)

Remarks

Cs-134 57.07 ± 4.96 56 ± 3 Cs-137 15.74 ± 1.59 17 ± 1


AEA (x ± σ Bq/kg)

Remarks

Cs-134 16.3 ± 1.5 17 ± 1.3 Cs-137 4.5 ± 0.5 4 ± 0.3 Ra-226 60.7 ± 4.6 60 ± 4

2009

2010

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Comparison with Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology

2011

2012


TINT (x ± σ Bq/kg)

Remarks

Cs-134 < 1.0 < MDC Cs-137 15.5 ± 1.3 14.43 ± 0.41 Ra-226 4.5 ± 0.6 3.34 ± 0.56


TINT (x ± σ Bq/kg)

Remarks

Cs-134 4.00 ± 0.65 3.36 ± 0.20 Cs-137 9.50 ± 1.20 8.64 ± 0.32 Ra-226 < 1.0 1.42 ± 0.23

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Materials Type Manufacturers/Suppliers Use in IAEA-315 Sediment IAEA GSS, ASS IAEA-326 Soil IAEA GSS IAEA-330 Spinach IAEA GSS IAEA-368 Sediment IAEA GSS, ASS IAEA-372 Grass IAEA GSS IAEA-375 Soil IAEA GSS IAEA-385 Sediment IAEA GSS, ASS IAEA-434 Phosphogypsum IAEA GSS IAEA-444 Soil IAEA GSS IAEA-445 Spiked Water IAEA GSS Soil-6 Soil IAEA GSS Multinuclide Standard Solution Eckert & Ziegler GSS H-3 Unquench Standard

Solution Packard LSC

H-3 Quenched Standard


C-14 Unquench Standard


C-14 Quenched Standard


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Materials Type Manufacturers/Suppliers Use in Pu-239, Am-241, Cu-244 Electrodeposited Amersham ASS U-234, U-238, Pu-239, Am-241

Electrodeposited Analytics ASS

U-232 Solution National Bureau of Standards ASS U-232 Solution Isotope Product Laboratories ASS U-238 Solution Isotope Product Laboratories ASS Th-229 Solution National Insitute of Standards

and Technology ASS

Th-229 Solution Eckert & Ziegler ASS Th-232 Solution Isotope Product Laboratories ASS Po-209 Solution Eckert & Ziegler ASS Po-210 Solution Eckert & Ziegler ASS Pu-238 Solution Isotope Product Laboratories ASS Pu-242 Solution National Insitute of Standards

and Technology ASS

Pu-242 Solution National Physical Laboratory ASS Ra-226 Solution Isotope Product Laboratories ASS Am-243 Solution AEA Technology ASS Pu-239 Incorporated AEA Technology QSA GAB Th-230 Incorporated AEA Technology QSA GAB Sr-90 Metallic Salts Isotope Product Laboratories GAB Po-210 Electrodeposited Isotope Product Laboratories GAB Am-241 Electrodeposited Isotope Product Laboratories GAB

• On behalf of the personnel of Radiochemistry and Environment Laboratory, Nuclear Malaysia, I would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Government of Malaysia for theirs confidence on the laboratory capabilities in radioactivity analyses since the 1980’s.

• Also not forget the local AFTLC organising committee for inviting me to this meeting to present our laboratory capabilities.

Acknowledgement

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Contact Us

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Radiochemistry and Environment Group, Block 23, Malaysian Nuclear Agency, 43000 Kajang, Selangor D.E. +603-8911 2000 +603-8928 2977

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