SIST EN ISO 18589-1:2021 PDF

Overview

EN ISO 18589-1:2021 - Measurement of radioactivity in the environment - Soil - Part 1: General guidelines and definitions provides the foundational requirements and definitions for carrying out radionuclide measurements in soils. Adopted from ISO 18589-1:2019, this part sets out general principles for sampling and testing of soils (the term “soil” is used broadly to include rock from bedrock and ore, construction materials, pottery and similar matrices), and addresses radioactivity arising from natural sources (NORM), technological enhancement (TENORM) and anthropogenic sources. The standard is intended for radiation protection purposes and applies to laboratories of any size; clauses that are not relevant to a particular laboratory (e.g., planning, sampling or testing) need not be applied.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Definitions and terminology: standardized terms related to soils, sampling, radioactivity and measurement to ensure consistent interpretation.
• Origins of soil radioactivity: natural (cosmic and terrestrial) and other sources including NORM/TENORM and human-made radionuclides.
• Objectives of soil radioactivity studies: initial characterization, routine surveillance, accident/incident investigation, remedial planning and decommissioning/clearance.
• Principles and planning: guidance on preparing sampling strategies and sampling plans that produce representative results suitable for radiation protection decisions.
• Sampling and laboratory processes: high-level requirements for the sampling process, sample preparation, radioactivity measurements and quality assurance.
• Procedural and documentation requirements: procedural controls, traceability and record-keeping to support measurement uncertainty assessments and comparability over time and between laboratories.
• Applicability: intended for measurement programs related to gardens, farmland, urban and industrial sites, and undisturbed soils.

Practical applications

• Environmental monitoring: routine surveillance around nuclear sites, industrial facilities, mines and phosphate processing plants to track radionuclide levels.
• Accident response: establishing baseline and post-incident soil radioactivity data for emergency assessment and remediation planning.
• Remediation and decommissioning: supporting site characterization, cleanup verification and material clearance decisions.
• Regulatory compliance and public health: providing fit‑for‑purpose, comparable data for regulators, site operators and public health authorities.
• Laboratory accreditation & proficiency testing: a reference for labs to demonstrate competence and ensure inter-laboratory comparability.

Who should use this standard

• Radiation protection officers, environmental scientists, laboratory managers, regulators, site operators, and consultants involved in soil radioactivity assessment and monitoring.

Related standards

• Other parts of the ISO 18589 series (provide detailed sampling techniques, laboratory processing and specific measurement methods) and international standards on radionuclide analysis and radiation measurement.