NIST, EML Conduct Laboratory Emergency Preparedness Radioactivity Tests
October 27, 2006 // Published as a news service by IHS
| |
| IHS Sells Standards & Regulations |
Environment/Health/Safety solutions from IHS include current & historical codes, regs & standards from gov't, int'l & industry sources.
Complete this form for a free quote. |
|
Working under severe time pressure, government laboratories can analyze radioactive samples in a matter of hours, but with variable accuracy and sometimes relaxed quality control procedures, according to two recent tests focusing on emergency preparedness.
The radioactivity analysis tests, described in the August 2006 Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, were organized by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Environmental Measurements Laboratory (EML), a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology laboratory.
Six laboratories, including federal, state and one foreign organization, participated in the NIST tests, and 17 in the EML tests.
According to NIST, the tests were conducted to let government officials know how quickly data can be obtained from radioactive samples after an accident or attack, and how accurate the results are likely to be, as well as to identify opportunities for improvement.
Decisions concerning the protection of emergency workers and public health, as well as the provision of food, shelter and medical care, may depend on timely, reliable data, researchers said.
The tests evaluated measurement capability and capacity, effect of time spent counting radioactivity, operational issues and measurement accuracy and confidence.
The NIST and EML tests involved different types of samples and analyses, but the results were consistent, with the average measurement across all matrices and measurement types within approximately 30% of the expected value. This compares to 2%-4% in the regular NIST Radiochemistry Intercomparison Program, which has a 60-day turnaround time.
Some laboratories, in order to respond quickly, had to modify standard operating procedures, reducing quality control over the data. In addition, some labs underestimated the precision of their measurements, while others overestimated it. As experience is acquired in future exercises, researchers said improvements are expected in the labs' capabilities.
Working toward an improved response to a radiological emergency, researchers recommended that informational guides on estimating measurement uncertainties be developed, and technical exchanges between laboratories be increased.
Other recommendations included increased participation in NIST's traceable radioassay preparedness exercises, improved radiochemical alpha and beta assay capabilities and the development of guidelines for decision-makers to help them better understand the relevance of measurement uncertainty at various stages of an emergency response.
Source: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).