Selectivity of 90Sr urine bioassay technique over 241Am, 238/239PU, 210PO, 137CS and 60CO

Emergency Radiobioassay Method for Determination of 90Sr and 226Ra in a Spot Urine Sample

“…In traditional urine radiobioassay methods (for internal dose assessment for occupational exposure), a 24-h urine sample (1200–1600 mL) is subjected to wet digestion to mineralize the radionuclides, coprecipitation to separate and preconcentrate them from the urine matrix, and further purification of target radionuclides by chromatography or solvent extraction. − In an R/N emergency, it will be more effective to collect a spot urine sample (50–100 mL) rather than a 24-h collection. To reduce sample preparation time, recent efforts have focused on using a spot urine sample and employing preconcentration via streamlined coprecipitation without any wet digestion, followed by separation and purification using radionuclide selective multiple stacked extraction chromatographic cartridges/columns. − Rapid radiobioassay methods have also been developed in which initial wet digestion and coprecipitation steps have been eliminated, and smaller volumes (<50 mL) of acidified raw urine samples are processed directly using extraction chromatography. , In order to provide technical support for emergency response, a number of rapid urine radiobioassay methods have been developed at the Radiation Protection Bureau of Health Canada for the determination of some high priority radionuclides ( 90 Sr, 241 Am, and 226 Ra) likely to be involved in an R/N emergency. − The work presented here describes a new method for the simultaneous determination of 90 Sr and 226 Ra in a spot urine sample. Compared to the existing methods where 90 Sr and 226 Ra require separate sample preparation procedures for matrix removal, preconcentration, and purification of the radionuclides, sample preparation for 90 Sr and 226 Ra in this method is simultaneous.…”