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Using tea as an artificial urine in a Canadian performance testing program for fission/activation products
Joseph N Daka1, Gerry Moodie, Anthony DiNardo
1*National Calibration Reference Centre, Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada, 775 Brookfield Road, P.L # 6302D, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1A 1C1.
Health Physics
|October 30, 2014
Summary
Researchers developed a stable black tea matrix for radioactivity testing, replacing urine. Adding alcohol instead of thimerosal prevented precipitation in fission/activation product testing, ensuring accurate results for performance testing programs.
Area of Science:
- Radiochemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Radiation Protection
Background:
- The National Calibration Reference Centre for Bioassay and In Vivo Monitoring (NCRC) sought alternatives to urine for performance testing programs (PTP).
- Previous success with a thimerosal-preserved tea matrix for tritium, carbon-14, and DUAL (3H/14C) testing was noted.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a suitable black tea matrix for the fission/activation products (F/AP) PTP.
- To address precipitation issues encountered with the thimerosal-preserved tea matrix in F/AP samples.
Main Methods:
- A 1% black tea solution was tested for the F/AP PTP.
- Thimerosal was replaced with approximately 5% alcohol (ethanol, methanol, or isopropanol) as a preservative.
- Stability, clarity, and performance against the CNSC S-106 regulatory standard were evaluated.
Main Results:
- The thimerosal-preserved tea matrix formed precipitates with F/AP samples (133Ba, 137Cs, 57Co, 60Co).
- Replacing thimerosal with alcohol eliminated precipitation, yielding a clear and stable tea matrix for at least 100 days.
- The alcohol-preserved tea matrix met accuracy and precision requirements for the F/AP PTP.
Conclusions:
- A stable and effective black tea matrix was successfully developed for the F/AP PTP.
- Alcohol serves as a suitable preservative, resolving precipitation issues and enabling reliable performance testing.
- This new matrix enhances the NCRC's capability for bioassay and in vivo monitoring.