Determination of plutonium isotopes (238,239,240Pu) and strontium (90Sr) in seafood using alpha spectrometry and liquid scintillation spectrometry

Publication date: October 2017
Source:Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 177
Author(s): Choonshik Shin, Hoon Choi, Hye-Min Kwon, Hye-Jin Jo, Hye-Jeong Kim, Hae-Jung Yoon, Dong-Sul Kim, Gil-Jin Kang
The present study was carried out to survey the levels of plutonium isotopes (^238,239,240Pu) and strontium (⁹⁰Sr) in domestic seafood in Korea. In current, regulatory authorities have analyzed radionuclides, such as ¹³⁴Cs, ¹³⁷Cs and ¹³¹I, in domestic and imported food. However, people are concerned about contamination of other radionuclides, such as plutonium and strontium, in food. Furthermore, people who live in Korea have much concern about safety of seafood. Accordingly, in this study, we have investigated the activity concentrations of plutonium and strontium in seafood. For the analysis of plutonium isotopes and strontium, a rapid and reliable method developed from previous study was used. Applicability of the test method was verified by examining recovery, minimum detectable activity (MDA), analytical time, etc. Total 40 seafood samples were analyzed in 2014–2015. As a result, plutonium isotopes (^238,239,240Pu) and strontium (⁹⁰Sr) were not detected or below detection limits in seafood. The detection limits of plutonium isotopes and strontium-90 were 0.01 and 1 Bq/kg, respectively.



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