Radiation Safety
Radiation Measurements in Water and Environmental Samples
An applied programme in the radiation measurement techniques used in the analysis of water and environmental samples: gamma-ray spectrometry and the measurement of radium-226 and radium-228, alpha spectrometry after chemical separation, radon in water, and gross alpha and beta counting, with quality control and the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025.
Overview
About the programme
Duration
5 days
Training hours
25 hours
Delivery
In the organisation’s laboratory
Language
Arabic or English
Objectives
Training outcomes
- Understand the interaction of radiation with matter, detector types, counting techniques, and the calculation of uncertainty and detection limits.
- Calibrate a gamma spectrometry system for energy and efficiency, and measure radium-226 and radium-228 in water.
- Separate alpha emitters from water samples by co-precipitation, chromatographic separation and electrodeposition, and measure them by alpha spectrometry.
- Measure radon in water.
- Preparing water samples for gross alpha and beta counting, calibrating the counting system and calculating activity.
- Apply quality control, proficiency testing and health and safety requirements in a radioactivity measurement laboratory.
Content
What the programme covers
Day 1: Foundations
- Radioactivity, its natural and artificial sources and their distribution.
- Interaction of radiation with matter, and units of activity and dose.
- Radiation detectors and counting techniques.
- Counting statistics: uncertainty, decision threshold and detection limit according to ISO 11929.
Day 2: gamma spectrometry and radium
- The gamma spectrometry system and its energy and efficiency calibration.
- Preparing standard sources and tracers.
- Practical: building a spreadsheet for efficiency by calibration curve and by comparison.
- Practical: preparing a water sample for radium-226 and radium-228 and calculating its activity.
Day 3: alpha spectrometry
- The alpha spectrometer and its components.
- Separation methods for water samples, and separation by co-precipitation.
- Alpha spectrum counting, sample activity and tracer recovery.
- Measurement problems and their solutions.
Day 4: separation and measurement in practice
- Practical: co-precipitation.
- Practical: chromatographic separation.
- Practical: electrodeposition.
- Practical: measuring a sample and calculating its activity.
Day 5: radon, gross counting and quality
- Measuring radon in water: theory and practice.
- Preparing water samples for gross alpha and beta counting, calibrating the counting system and calculating activity.
- Quality control, proficiency testing and interlaboratory comparisons, ISO/IEC 17025 requirements, and laboratory health and safety.
- Comparing results with the drinking-water screening levels in the World Health Organization guidelines, followed by the assessment.
Who it is for
Target audience
Chemists, technicians and managers in water analysis laboratories of water and environmental bodies, staff of radioactivity measurement laboratories, and others interested in radiation measurement techniques for water and environmental samples.
Method
Delivery method
Theory and practice. The practical part is carried out in the organisation’s laboratory on its own systems and chemical equipment; the instruments, standard sources, tracers and reagents available are agreed with the organisation before delivery. Each participant designs an action plan for their laboratory. Delivered in Arabic or English.
Questions
FAQ
Can the programme run without a laboratory?
The theory and calculations can be delivered in a training room, but the practical work needs an equipped laboratory at the organisation with a gamma spectrometry system, an alpha spectrometer and chemical separation equipment.
How does it relate to the gamma-ray and alpha spectrometry programmes?
This programme covers the main techniques used in water analysis together. Each of the other two goes deep into one technique and suits laboratories that rely on it in their daily work.
Is there a certificate?
Every participant who attends the programme and passes the assessment receives a certificate of completion from Technology Experts Training Center, licensed by the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation.
A programme tailored to your organisation
The duration and topics of the programme are adjusted to the organisation's needs, and it is delivered at its site, in a training hall arranged by the Center, or virtually.