Investigation of Contaminated Environmental Samples; US DOE EML Laboratory's Quality Assessment Programme

Abstract

A Quality Assessment Programme (QAP) was initiated by the US, Department of Energy (DOE) in 1998 to establish reliability in the measurement of radionuclides in contaminated environmental samples, i.e. soil, vegetation and exposed air filters. For this purpose, recognized relevant laboratories around the world were contacted and invited to participate in a regular proficiency programme. The Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) Miniature Neutron Source Reactor (MNSR) Laboratory at the Chemistry Division (CD), Directorate of Science, Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH), an IAEA Regional Resource Unit (IAEA-RRU), along with 76 other international laboratories participated in this exercise. In this paper, the performance of the NAA MNSR Laboratory throughout the QAP Programme (1998-2004) is presented in detail, describing the procedures employed, the problems encountered and the improvements and expertise gained from participating in this exercise.