ISO 18589-1:2019

Overview

ISO 18589-1:2019 - "Measurement of radioactivity in the environment - Soil - Part 1: General guidelines and definitions" sets out the general requirements, definitions and principles for measuring radionuclides in soil and soil-like materials. It covers sampling of soils, bedrock, ore, construction materials and products that may contain naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) or technologically enhanced NORM (TENORM). The standard is intended for use in radiation protection programmes and for laboratories performing environmental radioactivity testing.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and definitions: Clear terminology for soils, sampling, radioactivity and measurement to ensure consistent reporting and interpretation.
• Origins of radioactivity: Differentiation between natural sources (cosmic, geological, NORM) and human-related sources (industrial, nuclear installations, fallout).
• Objectives of soil radioactivity studies: Initial environmental characterization, routine surveillance, incident/accident investigations, remedial planning and decommissioning/clearance assessments.
• Principles of study design: Planning processes, sampling strategy and a sampling plan that ensure representative and traceable results.
• Sampling and laboratory processes: Requirements for the sampling process, sample handling, preparation and radioactivity measurements in the laboratory.
• Procedural and analytical requirements: Emphasis on documentation, measurement uncertainty assessment and procedural controls to produce fit‑for‑purpose results.
• Quality assurance context: Intended to be used within a quality management system (e.g., ISO/IEC 17025) and supports comparability between laboratories.

Practical applications and who uses it

ISO 18589-1:2019 is applicable to:

• Environmental and radiation protection authorities conducting routine surveillance and impact assessments.
• Laboratory managers and analysts performing soil radioactivity measurement and radionuclide testing.
• Operators of nuclear and industrial facilities (e.g., mining, mineral sands, phosphate fertilizer production) managing NORM/TENORM issues.
• Emergency response teams investigating accidental releases and planning remediation.
• Organizations involved in decommissioning, material clearance and compliance verification.

Practical uses include designing sampling programmes, ensuring representative soil sampling, establishing laboratory procedures, documenting results for regulatory compliance, and supporting laboratory accreditation and interlaboratory comparisons.

Related standards

ISO 18589 is a multipart series. Use ISO 18589-1 together with other parts for detailed methods:

• ISO 18589-2: sampling strategy and soil handling/preparation
• ISO 18589-3 to -6: nuclide-specific laboratory test methods (gamma emitters, plutonium, Sr, gross alpha/beta)
• ISO 18589-7: in situ gamma-emitter measurements

Keywords: ISO 18589-1:2019, soil radioactivity measurement, radionuclide testing, NORM, TENORM, environmental radioactivity, soil sampling, radiation protection, ISO/IEC 17025, laboratory accreditation.