Intercomparison exercise on the determination of plutonium in biological material

Area of Science:

• Radiochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Health

Background:

• Accurate determination of internal radioactive contamination is crucial for health surveillance.
• Plutonium-238 (²³⁸Pu) exposure requires reliable bioassay methods for monitoring.
• Intercomparison exercises are vital for validating analytical performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the performance of laboratories in determining plutonium-238 (²³⁸Pu) in urine samples.
• To evaluate the agreement between different analytical methods used for ²³⁸Pu determination.
• To provide a benchmark for national and international bioassay capabilities.

Main Methods:

• Participants analyzed provided urine samples with varying ²³⁸Pu levels (high, low, and blank).
• Multiple analytical techniques were employed by the participating laboratories.
• Standard laboratory procedures for sample preparation and measurement were followed.

Main Results:

• The results from the 11 participating laboratories demonstrated good agreement.
• Variability between laboratories was found to be acceptable across different concentration levels.
• The study confirmed the reliability of the applied methods for ²³⁸Pu urine analysis.

Conclusions:

• The intercomparison exercise successfully validated the accuracy and consistency of ²³⁸Pu determination in urine.
• Participating laboratories showed proficiency in measuring ²³⁸Pu, indicating robust bioassay capabilities.
• The findings support the use of these methods for routine monitoring of internal plutonium contamination.