Analysis of radioactive strontium and barium in water samples

1 Analysis of radioactive strontium and barium in water samples General 

If determination of the net B -activity reveals that a measured value of 30 pCi/1 has been exceeded, a special analysis is to be performed to establish which nuclides have caused the radioactivity in the water. Of the radioactive fission products, strontium 90 represents the greatest danger to the organism. It decays as a B -emitter with a half-life of approximately 28 years. Yttrium 90, which is likewise a B -emitter with a half-life of 

The relatively short-lived strontium 89, which decays with a half-life of approximately 31 days to form yttrium 89, is also a B -emitter, but it is of less significance on account of its relatively short half-life. 

As regards water analysis, it should also be noted that barium isotopes may be present, in particular barium 140 which has a half-life of 12.8 days and is both a B -and a emitter. 

The daughter product resulting from the B decay of barium 140 is lanthanum 140 which, with a half-life of roughly 40 hours, becomes inactive Cer-140. Like barium 140, lanthanum 140 is both a B -and a -emitter. 

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