Developing In-Vitro Bioassay Goals for Plutonium and Uranium for Department of Energy Facilities

Abstract

On 8 June 2007, the Department of Energy amended its occupational radiation protection rule Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations Part 835, Occupational Radiation Protection. Department of Energy revised the radiation weighting factors, tissue weighting factors and most of the dosimetric terms used in Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations Part 835 to reflect the recommendations for assessing dose and associated terminology from ICRP Publication 60, 1990 Recommendations of the ICRP on Radiological Protection. In support of the amendment, Department of Energy is revising its guidance documents on establishing bioassay result goals, which are used in assessing bioassay capabilities and establishing bioassay frequencies. The revised guidance is based on the updated dosimetric models and provides a useful tool for evaluating aspects of a bioassay program which may need revision.

A highly sensitive method for the reassessment and quantification of 239Pu in urine samples based on a 1 MV accelerator mass spectrometry system

“…3,4 Its main disadvantage is the relatively long counting time (from days to weeks, depending on the precision required) that is necessary for the final quantification of the plutonium, usually electrodeposited onto stainless-steel planchets.…”