Overview
ISO 13167:2023 - Water quality - Plutonium, americium, curium and neptunium - Test method using alpha spectrometry defines a laboratory procedure for measuring actinides (238Pu, 239+240Pu, 241Am, 242Cm, 243+244Cm and 237Np) in water samples using chemical separation followed by alpha spectrometry. The standard supports environmental studies, routine monitoring and emergency response. It specifies achievable performance: detection limits from 5 × 10−3 Bq·L−1 to 5 × 10−4 Bq·L−1 for sample volumes between 0.1 L and 5 L and counting times of two to ten days - well below WHO guidance levels for drinking water.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and applicability: Measurement of specified actinides in various water types; applicable in emergencies.
- Sampling, handling and storage: Guidance to ensure representativity and sample integrity prior to analysis.
- Reagents and apparatus: Lists required chemical reagents and laboratory equipment for chemical separation and source preparation.
- Chemical separation: Procedures for isolating actinides prior to counting (normative annexes describe separation on anionic resin and by specific resins).
- Source preparation: Methods such as electrodeposition and lanthanide-fluoride co‑precipitation for preparing alpha-counting sources (detailed in normative annexes).
- Measurement and counting: Background determination, counting efficiency and measurement procedure for alpha spectrometry.
- Quality assurance / quality control: Instrument verification, contamination control, interference management, method verification and demonstration of analyst capability.
- Expression of results: Calculation of tracer recovery, net count rates, activity concentrations, combined uncertainties, decision threshold and detection limit.
- Informative annexes: Use of Am as a yield tracer for curium isotopes; potential interferents; bibliographic references.
Applications
- Routine monitoring of drinking water and environmental waters for actinide contamination.
- Post-accident or emergency response monitoring where rapid, reliable actinide measurement is required.
- Regulatory compliance testing to demonstrate water quality against national and WHO guidance levels.
- Research studies on radionuclide transport, deposition and environmental impact.
Who uses this standard
- Environmental and radiochemistry laboratories performing alpha spectrometry.
- Public health and water-quality authorities, regulatory agencies and emergency response teams.
- Accredited testing bodies and laboratories seeking certification for actinide measurement in water.
Related standards
Normative references cited in ISO 13167:2023 include:
- ISO/IEC Guide 98-3 (GUM) - uncertainty of measurement
- ISO/IEC Guide 99 (VIM) - metrology vocabulary
- ISO 5667-1 and ISO 5667-3 - water sampling guidance
Keywords: ISO 13167:2023, alpha spectrometry, actinides, plutonium, americium, curium, neptunium, water quality, detection limit, environmental monitoring, emergency response.