SAM Radiochemical Methods
Selected Analytical Methods for Environmental Remediation and Recovery (SAM) provides a list of analytical methods to be used in analyzing environmental samples for radiochemical contaminants during homeland security events. Methods have been selected for each isotope and for each sample type that potentially may need to be measured and analyzed when responding to an environmental emergency.
Please note: SAM provides guidance for selecting radiochemical methods that have a high likelihood of assuring analytical consistency when laboratories are faced with a large scale environmental restoration crisis. Not all methods have been verified for the analyte/sample type combination listed. Please refer to the specified method to identify analyte/sample type combinations that have been verified. Any questions regarding information for radiochemical analytes and/or methods should be addressed to the appropriate contact(s) listed on the Technical Contacts page of this Web site. See: SAM Technical Contacts.
To determine the appropriate method that is to be used on an environmental sample, locate the analyte of concern using the Radiochemical Methods Query page. After locating the analyte of concern, continue across the table to identify the appropriate determinative technique (e.g., alpha or beta spectrometry), then identify the appropriate qualitative and/or confirmatory method for the sample type of interest (drinking water, aqueous and liquid phase, soil and sediment, surface wipes, and air filters) for the particular analyte. See: Radiochemical Methods Query.
UPDATE: In April 2013, EPA published three rapid methods for analysis of soil samples. The methods should be used in lieu of methods that are currently listed in SAM for qualitative analysis of the following isotopes in soil samples:
- americium-241
- plutonium-238
- plutonium-239
- radium-226
- strontium-90
- uranium-234
- uranium-235
- uranium-238
The rapid methods are provided and summarized in the following:
- Addendum for: Rapid Method for Sodium Carbonate Fusion of Soil and Soil-Related Matrices Prior to Strontium-90 Analyses for Environmental Remediation Following Radiological Incidents
- Addendum for: Rapid Method for Fusion of Soil and Soil-Related Matrices Prior to Americium, Plutonium, and Uranium Analyses for Environmental Remediation Following Radiological Incidents
- Addendum for: Rapid Method for Radium in Soil Incorporating the Fusion of Soil and Soil-Related Matrices with the Radioanalytical Counting Method for Environmental Remediation Following Radiological Incidents
Below is a list of all selected radiochemical methods with a link to their method abstract. Due to the complexity of some tables and graphics, some of our information is not amenable to a screen reader. If you have trouble accessing information contact Kathleen Nickel (nickel.kathy@epa.gov) and accommodations will be made.
| Method ID | Method Title |
|---|---|
| Method 111 (EPA) | EPA Method 111: Determination of Polonium-210 Emissions from Stationary Sources |
| 900.0 (EPA) | EPA Method 900.0: Gross Alpha and Gross Beta Radioactivity in Drinking Water |
| 901.1 (EPA) | EPA Method 901.1: Gamma Emitting Radionuclides in Drinking Water |
| 903.1 (EPA) | EPA Method 903.1: Radium-226 in Drinking Water - Radon Emanation Technique |
| 905.0 (EPA) | EPA Method 905.0: Radioactive Strontium in Drinking Water |
| 906.0 (EPA) | EPA Method 906.0: Tritium in Drinking Water |
| EMSL-19 (EPA) | EPA Method EMSL-19: Determination of Radium-226 and Radium-228 in Water, Soil, Air and Biological Tissue |
| EMSL-33 (EPA) | EPA Method EMSL-33: Isotopic Determination of Plutonium, Uranium, and Thorium in Water, Soil, Air, and Biological Tissue |
| Rapid Water Method for Phosphorus-32 (EPA ) | EPA Method: Rapid Radiochemical Method Phosphorus-32 in Water for Environmental Restoration Following Homeland Security Events |
| R4-73-014 (EPA) | EPA Method R4-73-014: Radioactive Phosphorus |
| Determination of Radiostrontium in Food and Bioenvironmental Samples (EPA) | EPA Method: Determination of Radiostrontium in Food and Bioenvironmental Samples |
| Rapid Water Method for Americium-241 (EPA ) | EPA Method: Rapid Radiochemical Method for Americium-241 in Water for Environmental Restoration Following Homeland Security Events |
| Rapid Water Method for Plutonium-238 and Plutonium-239/240 (EPA) | EPA Method: Rapid Radiochemical Method for Plutonium-238 and Plutonium-239/240 in Water for Environmental Restoration Following Homeland Security Events |
| Rapid Water Method for Radium-226 (EPA) | EPA Method: Rapid Radiochemical Method for Radium-226 in Water for Environmental Restoration Following Homeland Security Events |
| Rapid Water Method for Radiostrontium (EPA) | EPA Method: Rapid Radiochemical Method for Radiostrontium in Water for Environmental Restoration Following Homeland Security Events |
| Rapid Water Method for Isotopic Uranium (EPA) | EPA Method: Rapid Radiochemical Method for Isotopic Uranium in Water for Environmental Restoration Following Homeland Security Events |
| Rapid Method for Acid Digestion of Filters and Swipes (EPA) | EPA Method: Rapid Method for Acid Digestion of Glass-Fiber and Organic/Polymeric Composition Filters and Swipes Prior to Isotopic Uranium, Plutonium, Americium, Strontium, and Radium Analyses for Environmental Remediation Following Homeland Security Events |
| Rapid Method for Sodium Carbonate Fusion of Filters and Swipes (EPA) | EPA Method: Rapid Method for Sodium Carbonate Fusion of Glass-Fiber and Organic/Polymeric Composition Filters and Swipes Prior to Isotopic Uranium, Plutonium, Americium, Strontium, and Radium Analyses for Environmental Remediation Following Homeland Security Events |
| Am-01-RC (HASL-300) | EML HASL-300 Method Am-01-RC: Americium in Soil |
| Am-04-RC (HASL-300) | EML HASL-300 Method Am-04-RC: Americium in QAP Water and Air Filters - Eichrom's TRU Resin |
| Am-06-RC (HASL-300) | EML HASL-300 Method Am-06-RC: Americium and/or Plutonium in Vegetation |
| Ga-01-R (HASL-300) | EML HASL-300 Method Ga-01-R: Gamma Radioassay |
| Po-02-RC (HASL-300) | EML HASL-300 Method Po-02-RC: Polonium in Water, Vegetation, Soil, and Air Filters |
| Pu-12-RC (HASL-300) | EML HASL-300 Method Pu-12-RC: Plutonium and/or Americium in Soil or Sediments |
| Ra-03-RC (HASL-300) | EML HASL-300 Method Ra-03-RC: Radium-226 in Soil, Vegetable Ash, and Ion Exchange Resin |
| Sr-03-RC (HASL-300) | EML HASL-300 Method Sr-03-RC: Strontium-90 in Environmental Matrices |
| Tc-01-RC (HASL-300) | EML HASL-300 Method Tc-01-RC: Strontium-90 in Environmental Samples |
| Tc-02-RC (HASL-300) | EML HASL-300 Method Tc-02-RC: Technetium in Water - TEVA® Resin |
| U-02-RC (HASL-300) | EML HASL-300 Method U-02-RC: Isotopic Uranium in Biological and Environmental Samples |
| FRMAC, Vol 2, pg. 33 (DOE) | DOE FRMAC Method Volume 2, Page 33: Gross Alpha and Beta in Air |
| RESL P-2 (DOE) | DOE RESL Method P-2: 32P Fish, Vegetation, Dry Ash, Ion Exchange |
| Actinides and Sr-89/90 in Soil Samples (DOE SRS) | DOE SRS Method: Actinides and Sr-89/90 in Soil Samples |
| Actinides and Sr-89/90 in Vegetation (DOE SRS) | DOE SRS Method: Actinides and Sr-89/90 in Vegetation: Fusion Method |
| AP1 (ORISE) | ORISE Method AP-1: Gross Alpha and Beta for Various Matrices |
| AP2 (ORISE) | ORISE Method AP-2: Determination of Tritium |
| AP5 (ORISE) | ORISE Method AP-5: Determination of Technetium-99 |
| AP11 (ORISE) | ORISE Method AP-11: Sequential Determination of the Actinides in Environmental Samples Using Total Sample Dissolution and Extraction Chromatography |
| Procedure #9 (ORISE) | ORISE Method Procedure #9: Determination of I-125 in Environmental Samples |
| D3084-05 (ASTM) | ASTM Method D3084-05: Standard Practice for Alpha Spectrometry in Water |
| D3972-02 (ASTM) | ASTM Method D3972-02: Standard Test Method for Isotopic Uranium in Water by Radiochemistry |
| D5811-08 (ASTM) | ASTM Method D5811-08: Standard Test Method for Strontium-90 in Water |
| D7168-05 (ASTM) | ASTM Method D7168-05: Standard Test Method for Technetium-99 in Water by Solid Phase Extraction Disk |
| 7110 B (SM) | Standard Method 7110 B: Gross Alpha and Gross Beta Radioactivity (Total, Suspended, and Dissolved) |
| 7120 (SM) | Standard Method 7120: Gamma-Emitting Radionuclides |
| 7500-Ra B (SM) | Standard Method 7500-Ra B: Radium: Precipitation Method |
| 7500-Ra C (SM) | Standard Method 7500-Ra C: Radium: Emanation Method |
| 7500-U B (SM) | Standard Method 7500-U B: Uranium: Radiochemical Method |
| 7500-U C (SM) | Standard Method 7500-U C: Uranium: Isotopic Method |
| Preparation of Samples for Total Activity Screening (Y-12 DOE) | Y-12 DOE Method: Preparation of Samples for Total Activity Screening |