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Authors (affiliation): Ileana RADULESCU (IFIN-HH, Romania), Antonio Andrei SOFRON (IFIN-HH, Romania), Ciprian Augustin PARLOAGA (IFIN-HH, Romania), Annette RÖTTGER (PTB, Germany), Stefan RÖTTGER (PTB, Germany), Viacheslav MOROSH (PTB, Germany), Marta FUENTE (LSCE-IPSL, France).
The intercomparison exercises and proficiency tests are very important for the laboratories for which the main activities are environmental radioactivity measurements. These tests are the most used methods to assess the accuracy of the analytical data produced. In the same time, is representing a requirement for the laboratories which have ISO 17025 and quality assurance system implemented. Gross alpha-beta, gamma and radon measurements are worldwide applied techniques to measure and to analyze, both the natural and artificial isotopes, either in situ or in the labs.
This paper presents the results from few types of intercomparison exercises organized by the IAEA, and for radon within an international collaboration such as the traceRadon project.
Feedback from the final IAEA reports for gamma, alpha and beta measurements demonstrated that more than 100 reported results, 94 passed all test acceptance criteria, leading to an acceptance rate of almost 90 %. The failed results served as the basis for an analysis to apply corrections in the laboratory's measurement capabilities and to optimize their procedures.
In the case of radon measurements, solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD) were first exposed to an know radon concentration at the PTB climate chamber facility for calibration, and subsequently, the integral radon exposure of the SSNTD determined at an Atmospheric Monitoring Network Station (AMNS) was compare to the radon activity concentration estimated from the integral values and the average radon activity concentration measured by active monitoring devices. In operational services, the sensitivity and accuracy of the SSNTD readings are key factors, and must be properly estimated to provide correct exposure from radon.
In general, the overall results of the intercomparison exercises and proficiency tests point out the reliability and traceability of the systems used. Participating in intercomparison tests is one of the methods of evaluating the accuracy and precision of analytical data produced by laboratories.
