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A Method for the Determination of Radionuclides in Milk Ash

Milk and Food Research and Radiological Health Activities, Robert A. Taft Sanitary Engineering Center, Public Health Service, Cincinnati, Ohio

ABSTRACT

A modified method suitable for routine monitoring for the determination of four radionuclides [total radiostrontium, strontium⁹⁰ (yttrium⁹⁰), barium¹⁴⁰, and cesium¹³⁷] in the ash from one liter of milk, is described. With this method, based on radiometric analyses and employing ß- or -counting as applicable, recoveries are as follows: strontium, 82 ± 2%; yttrium⁹⁰ (strontium⁹⁰), 77% ± 4%; barium¹⁴⁰, 85% ± 4%; and cesium¹³⁷, 96% ± 3%. The over-all recovery of strontium⁹⁰ (yttrium⁹⁰), taking into account the recovery of strontium, is 64% ± 5%. These values indicate sufficient precision for most purposes. The major reason for loss of strontium and barium activity in the nitric acid treatment step is the low acid concentration (64–65%) employed. The interference of strontium on barium and barium on strontium is less than 1%, whereas the presence of cesium has no effect on the determination of strontium and barium activity. The results obtained on milk samples using this method are presented elsewhere (6).