Carbon cartridge standards for 125I and suggested applications

Carbon cartridge standards were prepared to assess the activity of 125I incident on, and adsorbed in, cartridge samples during air sampling. Each cartridge standard consisted of an 125I-spiked filter paper at a known depth, ranging from 0 to 19 mm, embedded in approximately 34 g of 20-30 mesh activated carbon contained within a 6.35 cm diameter by 2.22 cm deep metal cartridge with screened openings. The total counting efficiency values range from 17.8 to 20.8% for cartridges counted at 3.2 mm from a thin-crystal NaI(Tl) detector. The standards were analyzed using a front/back counting technique, and fitting functions were developed relating the front/back net counts ratio and counting efficiency to the 125I depth of burial. A method for determining sample activity that accounts for exponential radioiodine loading in cartridge samples is compared to a less complicated technique that assumes all the radioiodine is located at an equivalent depth of burial that is based on the sample front/back net counts ratio. In addition, methods are presented for determining airborne 125I activity for constant and variable concentrations. Variable concentrations are assumed to occur in a fume hood duct by one or more bulk releases as a result of iodinations that are performed during a given sampling interval. The two methods are shown to have maximum relative deviations ranging from -16 to +16%.