environmental health
The Future of Radiochemistry Testing on
Environmental Matrices: Federal, Academic
& Public Health Lab Perspectives
by John Griggs, PhD, director, EPA National Analytical Radiation Environmental Laboratory; Ralf Sudowe, PhD, associate professor
for radiochemistry & health physics, Colorado State University; Bob Read, PhD, environmental laboratory director, Tennessee
Department of Health: Laboratory Services; and Sarah Wright, MS, environmental laboratories senior specialist, APHL
How are you currently conducting radiochemistry testing on
environmental matrices?
Griggs: EPA’s National Analytical Radiation Environmental Laboratory (NAREL)
routinely analyzes for a variety of radionuclides in environmental and other
complex matrices such as mixed waste and urban matrices. NAREL employs
methods developed by NAREL and other organizations, all of which are
validated at NAREL for our intended use. Radionuclide separation chemistry is
accomplished using state-of-the-art technology.
Sudowe: At Colorado State University, we are engaged in research to improve
existing test methods for different radionuclides in a variety of environmental
matrices. This work is predominantly carried out using either standard
reference materials or samples from contaminated sites. Most importantly,
this research allows us to train the next generation of radiochemists.
Read: The Tennessee Radiochemistry Laboratory uses traditional techniques
for analysis, e.g., gamma spectroscopy, gas proportional counting, liquid
scintillation counting and alpha spectroscopy. Due to the wide variety of
matrices received (water, soil, sediments, air filters, vegetation, milk, swipes
and sludge), numerous sample preparation techniques such as acid digestion,
ashing, co-precipitation and gravimetric determination must be employed.
Where do you see the future of this field?
Griggs: Laboratories with radionuclide testing capabilities to monitor,
characterize and clean-up environmental matrices, and to respond and
recover following accidents or incidents, will continue to be in demand. Of
concern is the predicted wave of experienced radiochemist retirements in the
coming years and the potential technical void this could create in the field of
radioanalytical laboratory testing.
Sudowe: Recently, efforts have been made to expand the available tool kit of
techniques to other matrices that can be found in an urban environment such
as cement or asphalt. There is also renewed interest to introduce automation
into the radiochemical analysis field to increase sample throughput.
Read: Radiochemical analysis can be a lengthy and time-consuming
process. One approach to expediting radiochemical analysis is the use
of novel extraction chromatographic resins for rapid preparation and
separation. On the instrumentation side, liquid scintillation counting with
alpha-beta discrimination will be used for the analysis of gross alpha-beta,
strontium-89/90 and radium-226/228.
What should public health/environmental laboratories do to
benefit from the advances we are seeing in this field?
Griggs: Public health/environmental laboratories should ensure that anyone
involved or likely to be involved in the environmental radionuclide testing
gets as much theoretical and hands-on training as possible. Mentoring by
experienced radiochemists is essential for those who lack a solid background
in radiochemistry. Laboratories should promote and allow work time
Bob Read, PhD, reviews data for gross alpha-gross beta in water samples using a low background liquid scintillation
counter (LSC) with alpha-beta discrimination at the Tennessee Department of Health, Division of Laboratory Services.
This instrument enables the radioanalyst to count water samples with higher amounts of dissolved solids, and with
higher alpha and beta counting efficiencies as compared to traditional gas proportional counting (GPC)
for chemists to take online radiochemistry training courses and to read
appropriate articles on the latest advances in the field in publications such as
the Journal of Radioanalytical Chemistry.
Sudowe: Some of the best opportunities to stay informed of recent
developments are technical conferences and workshops such as the
Annual Radiobioassay and Radiochemical Measurements Conference. Many
universities also have begun to offer distance-learning courses to assist with
continuing education of the workforce.
Read: There are several options currently available. FDA’s Food Emergency
Response Network (FERN) provides numerous training opportunities to FERN
radiochemistry laboratories. State radiochemistry laboratories performing
contemporary methodologies such as Tennessee, South Carolina, Washington
and New York may be able to provide developmental advice. Those interested
may contact me ([email protected]) directly with any questions.
This article is the third in a series on the future of analytical testing on environmental matrices. We asked Drs. Griggs, Sudowe and Read to share their
thoughts on the future of radiochemistry testing on environmental matrices. Read the microbiology (pg. 24) and chemistry (pg. 29) articles in the
winter and spring Lab Matters to catch up on past articles.
18
LAB MATTERS Summer 2016
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