Interlaboratory comparison exercises for organically-bound tritium in the development of reference materials of environmental samples

• Published in: Applied radiation and isotopes Vol. 210; p. 111336
• Main Authors: Zaharov, Simona, Baglan, N., Nedelcu, A.E., Varlam, C., Vagner, I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2024
• Subjects: Environmental samples; HTO; Humans; Intercomparison exercise; Laboratories - standards; Nuclear Power Plants; OBT; Organically-bound tritium; Radiation Monitoring - methods; Reference material; Reference Standards; Romania; Tritium; Tritium - analysis; Romania; OBT; HTO; Environmental samples; Intercomparison exercise; Reference material; Tritium; Organically-bound tritium
• ISSN: 0969-8043; 1872-9800
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2024.111336

The complex behavior of tritium and the probability of increasing tritium concentrations released in the environment were the promotors for the research and development of laboratory methods that enable to accurately determine the various forms of tritium including organically-bound tritium (OBT) for public and regulatory assurance. The measurement of tritium is a key step for dose and risk assessment. The Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Romania improved preparation methods and tested environmental matrices for OBT analysis through intercomparison exercises. This paper describes the international Organically-Bound Tritium (OBT) intercomparison exercise, organized by the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in 2019–2020, using fruit sample (quince) from Cernavoda town. Evaluation of the results from the participating laboratories was performed using both robust analysis (Algorithm A) method described in the ISO 13528:2015 standard and ANOVA method. The results obtained are encouraging as an increased number of participating laboratories did not change the observed dispersion of the results for activity concentration level around 50 Bq/L of combustion water. The stability of the remaining sample will be checked in time to investigate its use as a reference material for OBT analysis at the environmental levels. •The paper details the international intercomparison exercise for Organically-Bound Tritium (OBT), conducted by the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) during 2019–2020, utilizing a quince fruit sample from the town of Cernavoda.•The results from the participating laboratories were evaluated in collaboration with colleagues from CEA/IBFJ/IRCM/SREIT/LRT in France, utilizing both the robust analysis (Algorithm A) method outlined in the ISO 13528:2015 standard and the ANOVA method.•The outcomes of the 6th OBT intercomparison exercise, which utilized quince samples, are promising. A significant number of participating laboratories maintained the observed dispersion of results for the activity concentration level at approximately 50 Bq/L of combustion water.•Additional tests will be conducted on the remaining sample to assess the temporal stability of the matrix during the development of a reference material for organically bound tritium (OBT) analysis at environmental levels.•The discussions and publication of results for this study have been delayed due to the pandemic, which has impacted research activities in numerous laboratories worldwide.