What is radiochemical measurement?
Other radiochemical measurements
The EPA provides a radiochemical measurement service to analyse the radioactivity in foodstuffs, drinking water and sealed sources of radiation.
Radiochemical measurement is the measurement of the radioactivity of a material. Radiochemical testing is carried out at the EPA’s radio-analytical laboratory. We test a broad range of samples on behalf of the Government, food producers, industry and the public.
This laboratory is a vital link in the Irish food safety chain as it is the official national laboratory for testing of radioactivity in foodstuffs and environmental materials.
Why would radiochemical measurement be required?
Radiochemical testing ensures that the food and water we consume and the sources of ionising radiation we work with are all within the limits determined by Irish and international law.
What sort of samples are analysed?
Radiochemical testing is commonly carried out on foodstuffs, drinking water and sealed sources of radiation. Sealed sources are commonly used to deliver a defined dose of radiation, such as that used in cancer therapy or to sterilise food and medical equipment and can be used in industry to check welds on pipelines or in level gauges.
The radiochemical measurement services provided by the EPA are:
Product certification
The EPA issues certificates to show the radioactivity content of Irish foodstuffs and other produce. Some importing countries may request certificates to show that the radioactivity content is below specific requirements. Any producer of food or drinks products for export may require a product certificate from the EPA, officially called a Certificate of Radioactivity Measurement.
You can find more information on product certification in our Product Certification Services page.
Product Certification Terms and Conditions are also available.
Analysis of sealed source for leakage (wipe tests)
A wipe test is carried out to check the integrity of a sealed source of ionising radiation. Sealed sources are commonly used to deliver a defined dose of radiation, such as that used in cancer therapy or to sterilise food and medical equipment and can be used in industry to check welds on pipelines or in level gauges.
Sealed radioactive sources can suffer as a result of mechanical damage or corrosion of the container. Licensees holding sealed sources are required to have them wipe tested every two years, to ensure that they are within the specified 200 becquerel (Bq) limit. The EPA can provide analysis of a wipe test carried out on a sealed source by your trained personnel. We can also provide information on how to conduct the wipe test and how to package it for analysis in our laboratory.
Radon in water test
You can be exposed to radioactive radon through drinking water that contains elevated levels of dissolved radon and through inhaling the gas as it is released from the water. The Reference Value for radon in Irish drinking water is 500 Bq/l.
If you use water from a well or private groundwater supply, you can have your drinking water measured for radon.
Please note, we are limited to the number of radon in drinking water measurements that can be carried out, so please contact us on radcertification@epa.ie or call us on freephone 1800 300 600 if you are interested in carrying out a measurement. If we can carry out the measurement, we will go through the application process and send you sample containers to collect water and instructions on how to fill the bottles.
Further information about radon testing can be found here.
Total alpha and total beta and tritium testing of drinking water
The EPA can carry out the measurement of other radioactivity concentrations in drinking water, i.e. gross alpha and beta activity. The recommended screening levels for gross alpha and gross beta activity are 100 milli-becquerel per litre (mBq/l) and 1000 milli-becquerel per litre (mBq/l) respectively.
If the radioactivity concentrations of the water tested are below these screening levels, then the water supply complies with the Euratom Drinking Water Directive (2013/51/EURATOM). It is considered acceptable for human consumption and no action is required.
If the radioactivity concentrations exceed these screening levels then individual radionuclide concentrations should be determined and, if necessary, the dose arising from each component calculated. The EPA will give advice on any further analysis required.
A one-litre water sample is required for these analyses.
The EPA radio-analytical laboratory is equipped for:
Please contact us if you would like further information on these measurements.
Current product certification charges are provided below
| Description | Unit Price | Unit Price Inc VAT 23% (€) |
|---|---|---|
| Gamma Spectroscopy (Standard1) | 162.00 | 199.26 |
| Gamma Spectroscopy (Complex2) | 302.00 | 371.46 |
| Determine Gross Alpha Beta Activity | 160.00 | 196.80 |
| Radon in Drink Water Analysis3 | 65.00 | 79.95 |
| Determine Strontium-903 | 324.00 | 398.52 |
| Wipe Test | 40.00 | 49.20 |
| Issue of Product Certification4 | 59.00 | N/A |
If you have any general or technical queries about radiochemical analysis that are not answered on our website, please do not hesitate to contact us
| Address |
ORM Business Support Unit EPA Office of Radiation Protection and Environmental Monitoring McCumiskey House Richview Clonskeagh Road Dublin 14 D14 YR62 |
|---|---|
| Telephone | (01) 268 0100 |
| Opening Hours | 9.00am to 5.00pm |
