Radioanalytical Facilities at CEH

The Radioecology group at the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology provides an independent laboratory service to a range of customers from government agencies to the private sector.

Instrumentation

CEH's Lancaster site is equipped with a suite of purpose-built Environmental Radiochemistry laboratories.

UKAS Accreditation

We work to internationally recognised standards in UKAS-accredited laboratories.

Currently accredited methodologies are:

• Gamma spectroscopy
• Alpha spectroscopy (Pu alpha, Am-241)
• Tc-99 by low-level liquid scintillation counting

Full details of our accreditation schedule can be found here. The laboratory participates in proficiency testing schemes organised by the National Physics Laboratory, the International Atomic Energy and the United States Department of Energy (MAPEP).

Sample Types

We have considerable experience in analysing a range of sample types including:

• Soils and sediments
• Water
• Vegetation
• Foodstuffs
• Wildlife

The site has designated laboratories for the preparations of all of these sample types.

Gamma Spectroscopy

The laboratory has 10 hyper-pure germanium detectors used for determining gamma emitting nuclides such as 137Cs, 134Cs, 131I and 40K in a variety of environmental sample geometries and matrices. The detectors are calibrated for efficiency using a mixed radionuclide standard which covers an energy range of approximately 59-1850 keV. Spectra are analysed using Canberra Genie software.

Alpha Spectroscopy

The eight alpha detectors enable determinations of actinides such as Am and Pu alpha isotopes. Measurements are performed using passivated ion-implanted planar silicon (PIPS) detectors in conjunction with a multi-channel analyser. Spectra are analysed using Canberra Genie software.

Liquid Scintillation Analysis

A Wallac Quantulus 1220 Ultra Low Level LSC is used to analyse samples for beta emitters.