Water quality - Guidance for rapid radioactivity measurements in nuclear or radiological emergency situation (ISO 22017:2020)

This standard describes the requirements for rapid testing of water samples under emergency situations in laboratories:
- taking into account a special context for analyses, e.g. an unknown and unusual contamination;
- using or adapting if possible radioactivity measurements methods used in routine to get a result
rapidly or applying specific rapid methods previously tested by the laboratory, e.g. for 89Sr determination ;
- preparing the laboratory to analyse a large number of potentially contaminated samples.
The focus thereby is on cases where rapid radioactivity test methods are applied for all kind of waters. The first steps of the analytical strategy is often based on gross alpha and gross beta as screening methods (adaptation of ISO 10704 and ISO 11704) and gamma spectrometry (adaptation of ISO 10703). Then if necessary, specific radionuclides standards are adapted and applied (for example, Strontium 90 measurement following ISO 13160).
This guideline refers to a number of ISO standards. If appropriate, it will also refer to national or other
publically available standards.
Screening techniques that can be carried out on site are not part of this guide.

Wasserbeschaffenheit - Anleitung für Schnellverfahren zur Radioaktivitätsmessung in nuklearen oder radiologischen Notfallsituationen (ISO 22017:2020)

Dieses Dokument enthält Leitlinien für Prüflaboratorien, die Schnellprüfverfahren bei Wasserproben, die infolge einer nuklearen oder radiologischen Notfallsituation möglicherweise kontaminiert sind, anwenden möchten. In einer Notfallsituation sollte bedacht werden, dass
- die spezifischen Rahmenbedingungen der durchzuführenden Prüfungen berücksichtigt werden, z. B. ein potentiell hoher Kontaminationsgrad,
- die in Routinesituationen angewendeten Prüfverfahren zur Radioaktivitätsmessung nach Möglichkeit angewendet oder angepasst werden, um schnell ein Ergebnis zu erhalten, oder – bei nicht routinemäßig durchgeführten Prüfungen – spezielle Schnellprüfverfahren angewendet werden, die zuvor vom Laboratorium validiert wurden (z. B. für die Bestimmung von 89Sr),
- das Prüflaboratorium darauf vorbereitet wird, eine große Anzahl an potentiell kontaminierten Proben zu messen.
Ziel dieses Dokuments ist es, sicherzustellen, dass den Entscheidungsträgern die erforderlichen zuverlässigen Ergebnisse zur Verfügung stehen, um rasch Maßnahmen zu ergreifen und die Strahlendosis für die Bevölkerung zu minimieren.
Um das Risiko für die Bevölkerung möglichst gering zu halten, wird die Qualität der Wasserversorgung durch Messungen überprüft. In Notfallsituationen werden Prüfergebnisse oft mit abgeleiteten Richtwerten verglichen.
ANMERKUNG Die abgeleiteten Richtwerte (OILs, en: operational intervention levels) stammen aus den Sicherheitsstandards der Internationalen Atomenergie-Organisation IAEO [8] oder von nationalen Behörden [9].
Ein Schlüsselelement einer raschen Analyse kann die Verwendung von routinemäßigen Verfahren mit verkürzter Durchführungszeit sein. Diese Schnellmessungen dienen häufig dazu, ungewöhnlich hohe radioaktive Belastungen in der Probe festzustellen, die vorhandenen Radionuklide und ihre Aktivitätskonzentrationen zu bestimmen sowie zu ermitteln, ob das Wasser den Eingreifrichtwerten entspricht [10], [11], [12]. Es sollte beachtet werden, dass unter diesen Umständen die für Routineanwendungen evaluierten Validierungsparameter (z. B. Vergleichpräzision, Präzision usw.) möglicherweise nicht auf das modifizierte Schnellverfahren anwendbar sind. Aufgrund der nach einem Notfall auftretenden Umstände kann das modifizierte Verfahren jedoch nach wie vor seinen Zweck erfüllen, wenngleich die mit den Prüfergebnissen verbundenen Unsicherheiten beurteilt werden müssen und gegenüber Routineanalysen zunehmen können.
Die ersten Schritte des analytischen Ansatzes sind üblicherweise Screening Verfahren, die auf Gesamt-Alpha  und Gesamt-Beta-Verfahren (Anpassung von ISO 10704 und ISO 11704) und Gammaspektrometrie (Anpassung von ISO 20042, ISO 10703 und ISO 19581) beruhen. Anschließend werden bei Bedarf [13] die Normen mit Prüfverfahren für spezifische Radionuklide (siehe Abschnitt 2) angepasst und angewendet (z. B. Messung von 90Sr nach ISO 13160), wie in Anhang A vorgeschlagen.
Dieses Dokument verweist auf veröffentlichte ISO Dokumente. An entsprechender Stelle verweist dieses Dokument auch auf nationale Normen oder andere öffentlich zugängliche Dokumente.
Screening-Techniken, die direkt vor Ort durchgeführt werden können, werden in diesem Dokument nicht behandelt.

Qualité de l'eau - Recommandations pour les mesurages rapides de la radioactivité en situation d'urgence nucléaire ou radiologique (ISO 22017:2020)

Le présent document fournit des lignes directrices pour les laboratoires d'essai désireux d'utiliser des méthodes d'essai rapides sur des échantillons d'eau susceptibles d'être contaminés suite à une situation d'urgence nucléaire ou radiologique. Dans une situation d'urgence, il convient :
—     de prendre en compte le contexte spécifique des essais à effectuer, par exemple un niveau de contamination potentiellement élevé ;
—     d'utiliser ou d'ajuster, lorsque cela est possible, les méthodes d'essai pour la détermination de la radioactivité mises en œuvre dans des situations de routine pour obtenir rapidement un résultat ou, pour les essais non effectués dans des situations de routine, d'appliquer des méthodes d'essai rapides spécifiques préalablement validées par le laboratoire, par exemple pour la détermination de l'activité volumique de 89Sr ;
—     de préparer le laboratoire d'essai à mesurer un grand nombre d'échantillons potentiellement contaminés.
Le présent document a pour objectif de s'assurer que les décideurs disposent de résultats fiables pour prendre des mesures rapidement et pour réduire au minimum la dose pour le public.
Les mesurages sont effectués lors du contrôle de la qualité de l'eau des ressources d'eau afin de réduire au minimum le risque pour le public. Pour les situations d'urgence, les résultats d'essai sont souvent comparés aux niveaux opérationnels d'intervention.
NOTE    Les niveaux opérationnels d'intervention (NOI) proviennent des normes de sureté l'AIEA[8] ou des autorités nationales[9].
Un élément clé d'analyse rapide peut consister à utiliser les méthodes de routine mais dans un délai plus court. L'objectif de ces mesurages rapides est souvent de contrôler des niveaux de radioactivité inhabituels dans l'échantillon pour essai, d'identifier les radionucléides présents et leurs activités volumiques ainsi que d'établir la conformité de l'eau avec les niveaux d'intervention[10][11][12]. Il convient de noter que dans ces cas, les paramètres de validation évalués pour l'usage en routine (par exemple, reproductibilité, fidélité, etc.) ne sont pas nécessairement applicables à la méthode rapide modifiée. Cependant, en raison des conséquences découlant d'une situation d'urgence, la méthode modifiée peut rester adaptée à l'usage prévu, bien que les incertitudes associées aux résultats d'essai doivent être évaluées et puissent augmenter par rapport aux analyses de routine.
Les premières étapes de la méthode d'analyse reposent généralement sur les méthodes d'essai des activités volumiques alpha globale et bêta globale considérées comme des méthodes de dépistage (adaptation de l'ISO 10704 et de l'ISO 11704) et sur la spectrométrie gamma (adaptation de l'ISO 20042, de l'ISO 10703 et de l'ISO 19581). Puis, si nécessaire[13], les normes sur les méthodes d'essai relatives à des radionucléides spécifiques (voir l'Article 2) sont adaptées et appliquées (par exemple, mesurage du 90Sr conformément à l'ISO 13160) comme cela est proposé à l'Annexe A.
Le présent document fait référence à des documents ISO publiés. Le cas échéant, le présent document fait également référence à des normes nationales ou à d'autres documents publics disponibles.
Les méthodes de dépistage qui peuvent être appliquées directement sur site ne font pas partie du présent document.

Kakovost vode - Navodilo za hitre meritve radioaktivnosti v nujnih primerih (ISO 22017:2020)

General Information

Status
Published
Public Enquiry End Date
24-Sep-2019
Publication Date
07-Dec-2020
Technical Committee
Current Stage
6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
Start Date
28-Oct-2020
Due Date
02-Jan-2021
Completion Date
08-Dec-2020

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Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST EN ISO 22017:2021
01-januar-2021
Kakovost vode - Navodilo za hitre meritve radioaktivnosti v nujnih primerih (ISO
22017:2020)
Water quality - Guidance for rapid radioactivity measurements in nuclear or radiological
emergency situation (ISO 22017:2020)
Wasserbeschaffenheit - Anleitung für Schnellverfahren zur Radioaktivitätsmessung in
nuklearen oder radiologischen Notfallsituationen (ISO 22017:2020)
Qualité de l'eau - Recommandations pour les mesurages rapides de la radioactivité en
situation d'urgence nucléaire ou radiologique (ISO 22017:2020)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 22017:2020
ICS:
13.060.60 Preiskava fizikalnih lastnosti Examination of physical
vode properties of water
13.280 Varstvo pred sevanjem Radiation protection
17.240 Merjenje sevanja Radiation measurements
SIST EN ISO 22017:2021 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

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SIST EN ISO 22017:2021

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SIST EN ISO 22017:2021


EN ISO 22017
EUROPEAN STANDARD

NORME EUROPÉENNE

September 2020
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 13.060.60; 13.280; 17.240
English Version

Water quality - Guidance for rapid radioactivity
measurements in nuclear or radiological emergency
situation (ISO 22017:2020)
Qualité de l'eau - Recommandations pour les Wasserbeschaffenheit - Anleitung für Schnellverfahren
mesurages rapides de la radioactivité en situation zur Radioaktivitätsmessung in nuklearen oder
d'urgence nucléaire ou radiologique (ISO 22017:2020) radiologischen Notfallsituationen (ISO 22017:2020)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 22 August 2020.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
United Kingdom.





EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2020 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 22017:2020 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

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SIST EN ISO 22017:2021
EN ISO 22017:2020 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3

2

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SIST EN ISO 22017:2021
EN ISO 22017:2020 (E)
European foreword
This document (EN ISO 22017:2020) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 147 "Water
quality" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 230 “Water analysis” the secretariat of
which is held by DIN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by March 2021, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by March 2021.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the
United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 22017:2020 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 22017:2020 without any modification.

3

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SIST EN ISO 22017:2021

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SIST EN ISO 22017:2021
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 22017
First edition
2020-08
Water quality — Guidance for rapid
radioactivity measurements in
nuclear or radiological emergency
situation
Qualité de l'eau — Recommandations pour les mesurages rapides de
la radioactivité en situation d'urgence nucléaire ou radiologique
Reference number
ISO 22017:2020(E)
©
ISO 2020

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SIST EN ISO 22017:2021
ISO 22017:2020(E)

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT
© ISO 2020
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting
on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address
below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

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ISO 22017:2020(E)

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 2
4 Guidance on emergency measurement . 4
4.1 Objective of a specific rapid measurement . 4
4.2 Routine screening levels versus intervention levels . 4
4.3 Operational intervention levels (OILs) from EU, USA and IAEA. 5
5 Rapid measurements . 5
5.1 Adaptation of the methods used . 5
5.2 Sampling . 6
5.3 Rapid test methods . 6
5.3.1 Pre-screening: Identification of most contaminated samples . 6
5.3.2 Selection of the analytical strategy . 6
5.3.3 Appropriate sample volumes and counting times related to intervention levels . 9
5.3.4 Gross-alpha and gross-beta determination and gamma spectrometry .10
5.3.5 Specific separations for alpha emitters or pure beta emitters measurement .11
6 Laboratory management to perform rapid measurements .12
6.1 Protection of laboratory staff .12
6.2 Sample management.12
6.3 Material and staff .12
6.4 Quality management .13
6.5 Expression of results and test report .13
Annex A (informative) World Health Organization screening for radionuclides in drinking
water .14
Annex B (informative) Operational Intervention Levels (OILs) from EU, US and IAEA .15
Annex C (informative) Overview of different types of rapid measurements during a nuclear
or radiological emergency.16
Annex D (informative) Example of a decision scheme for rapid measurements in the early
phase .18
Bibliography .19
© ISO 2020 – All rights reserved iii

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SIST EN ISO 22017:2021
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Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/ directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/ patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the following
URL: www .iso .org/ iso/ foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 147, Water quality, SC 3, Radioactivity
measurements.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www .iso .org/ members .html.
iv © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

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Introduction
Radioactivity from several naturally-occurring and anthropogenic sources is present throughout
the environment. Thus, water bodies (e.g. surface waters, ground waters, sea waters) can contain
radionuclides of natural, human made, or both origins:
40 3 14
— Natural radionuclides, including K, H, C, and those originating from the thorium and uranium
226 228 234 238 210 210
decay series, in particular Ra, Ra, U, U, Po and Pb can be found in water for
natural reasons (e.g. desorption from the soil and wash off by rain water) or can be released from
technological processes involving naturally occurring radioactive materials (e.g. the mining and
processing of mineral sands or phosphate fertilizers production and use);
— Human-made radionuclides such as transuranium elements (americium, plutonium, neptunium and
3 14 90
curium), H, C, Sr, and some gamma emitting radionuclides can also be found in natural waters.
Small quantities of these radionuclides may be discharged from nuclear fuel cycle facilities into
the environment as the result of authorized routine releases. Some of these radionuclides used for
medical and industrial applications are also released into the environment after use. Anthropogenic
radionuclides are also found in waters as the result of past fallout contaminations resulting from
the explosion in the atmosphere of nuclear devices and accidents such as those that occurred in
Chernobyl and Fukushima.
Radionuclide activity concentration in water bodies can vary according to local geological
characteristics and climatic conditions and can be locally and temporally enhanced by releases from
[1]
nuclear installation during planned, existing, and emergency exposure situations . Drinking-water
may thus contain radionuclides at activity concentrations which could present a risk to human health.
The radionuclides present in liquid effluents are usually controlled before being discharged into
[2]
the environment and water bodies. Drinking waters are monitored for their radioactivity as
[3]
recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) so that proper actions can be taken to ensure
that there is no adverse health effect to the public. Following these international recommendations,
national regulations usually specify radionuclide authorized concentration limits for liquid effluent
discharged to the environment and radionuclide guidance levels for waterbodies and drinking waters
for planned, existing, and emergency exposure situations. Compliance with these limits can be assessed
using measurement results with their associated uncertainties as requested by ISO/IEC Guide 98-3
[4]
and ISO 5667-20 .
Depending of the exposure situation, there are different limits and guidance levels that would result in
an action to reduce health risk.
-1
NOTE 1 The guidance level is the activity concentration with an intake of 2 ld of drinking water for one year,
-1
that results in an effective dose of 0,1 mSva for members of the public. This is an effective dose that represents
[3]
a very low level of risk that is not expected to give rise to any detectable adverse health effect .
[5]
In the event of a nuclear emergency, the WHO Codex Guideline Levels indicates the activity
concentrations corresponding to operational intervention levels.
NOTE 2 The Codex guidelines levels (GLs) apply to radionuclides contained in foods destined for human
consumption and traded internationally, which have been contaminated following a nuclear or radiological
emergency. These GLs apply to food after reconstitution or as prepared for consumption, i.e. not to dried or
concentrated foods, and are based on an intervention exemption level of 1 mSv in a year for members of the
[5]
public (infant and adult) .
Thus, the test method can be adapted so that the characteristic limits, decision threshold and detection
limit, and the uncertainties ensure that the radionuclide activity concentration test results can be
verified to be below the guidance levels required by a national authority for either planned-existing
[6][7]
situations or an emergency situation .
Usually, the test methods can be adjusted to measure the activity concentration of the radionuclide(s)
in either wastewaters before storage or in liquid effluents before being discharged to the environment.
© ISO 2020 – All rights reserved v

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SIST EN ISO 22017:2021
ISO 22017:2020(E)

The test results will enable the plant/installation operator to verify that, before their discharge,
wastewaters/liquid effluent radioactive activity concentrations do not exceed authorized limits.
The test methods described in this document for emergency exposure situations may also be used
during planned, existing exposure situations as well as for wastewaters and liquid effluents with
specific modifications that could change the overall uncertainty, detection limit, and threshold.
The test method(s) may be used for water samples after proper sampling, sample handling, and test
sample preparation (see the relevant part of ISO 5667 series).
This document has been developed to answer the need of test laboratories carrying out these
measurements that may be required by national authorities during a nuclear or radiological emergency
exposure situation.
This document is one of a set of International Standards on test methods dealing with the measurement
of the activity concentration of radionuclides in water samples.
The ISO documents produced for radioactivity measurements in water are detailed methods. In most
cases, these methods have been used in laboratory practice for a number of years and the analytical
characteristics have been documented. However, these methods are generally time consuming and
require well trained analysts to carry them out.
Over the last years, an increasing need was recognized for the addition of guidance on the use of so-
called “rapid methods”. The nuclear accident at Fukushima in March 2011 accentuated the need for
these rapid measurements. During the initial stages of such incidents, decision makers had to deal with
taking protective measures for the population, such as sheltering, evacuation, and the distribution
of iodine prophylaxis. It has been found that time is critical and limited for taking these protective
measures.
vi © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

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SIST EN ISO 22017:2021
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 22017:2020(E)
Water quality — Guidance for rapid radioactivity
measurements in nuclear or radiological emergency
situation
1 Scope
This document provides guidelines for testing laboratories wanting to use rapid test methods on
water samples that may be contaminated following a nuclear or radiological emergency incident. In an
emergency situation, consideration should be given to:
— taking into account the specific context for the tests to be performed, e.g. a potentially high level of
contamination;
— using or adjusting, when possible, radioactivity test methods implemented during routine situations
to obtain a result rapidly or, for tests not performed routinely, applying specific rapid test methods
89
previously validated by the laboratory, e.g. for Sr determination;
— preparing the test laboratory to measure a large number of potentially contaminated samples.
The aim of this document is to ensure decision makers have reliable results needed to take actions
quickly and minimize the radiation dose to the public.
Measurements are performed in order to minimize the risk to the public by checking the quality of water
supplies. For emergency situations, test results are often compared to operational intervention levels.
[8]
NOTE Operational intervention levels (OILs) are derived from IAEA Safety Standards or national
[9]
authorities .
A key element of rapid analysis can be the use of routine methods but with a reduced turnaround time.
The goal of these rapid measurements is often to check for unusual radioactivity levels in the test sample,
to identify the radionuclides present and their activity concentration levels and to establish compliance
[10][11][12]
of the water with intervention levels . It should be noted that in such circumstances, validation
parameters evaluated for routine use (e.g. reproducibility, precision, etc.) may not be applicable to the
modified rapid method. However, due to the circumstances arising after an emergency, the modified
method may still be fit-for-purpose although uncertainties associated with the test results need to be
evaluated and may increase from routine analyses.
The first steps of the analytical approach are usually screening methods based on gross alpha and
gross beta test methods (adaptation of ISO 10704 and ISO 11704) and gamma spectrometry (adaptation
[13]
of ISO 20042, ISO 10703 and ISO 19581). Then, if required , test method standards for specific
90
radionuclides (see Clause 2) are adapted and applied (for example, Sr measurement according to
ISO 13160) as proposed in Annex A.
This document refers to published ISO documents. When appropriate, this document also refers to
national standards or other publicly available documents.
Screening techniques that can be carried out directly in the field are not part of this document.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 9696, Water quality — Gross alpha activity — Test method using thick source
© ISO 2020 – All rights reserved 1

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ISO 9697, Water quality — Gross beta activity — Test method using thick source
ISO 9698, Water quality — Tritium — Test method using liquid scintillation counting
ISO 10703, Water quality — Determination of the activity concentration of radionuclides — Method by
high resolution gamma-ray spectrometry
ISO 10704, Water quality — Gross alpha and gross beta activity — Test method using thin source deposit
ISO 11704, Water quality — Gross alpha and gross beta activity — Test method using liquid scintillation
counting
ISO/IEC 17025, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
ISO 13160, Water quality — Strontium 90 and strontium 89 — Test methods using liquid scintillation
counting or proportional counting
ISO 13161, Water quality — Measurement of polonium 210 activity concentration in water by alpha
spectrometry
ISO 13162, Water quality — Determination of carbon 14 activity — Liquid scintillation counting method
ISO 13163, Water quality — Lead-210 — Test method using liquid scintillation counting
ISO 13165-1, Water quality — Radium-226 — Part 1: Test method using liquid scintillation counting
ISO 13165-2, Water quality — Radium-226 — Part 2: Test method using emanometry
ISO 13165-3, Water quality — Radium-226 — Part 3: Test method using coprecipitation and gamma-
spectrometry
ISO 13166, Water quality — Uranium isotopes — Test method using alpha-spectrometry
ISO 13167, Water quality — Plutonium, americium, curium and neptunium — Test method using alpha
spectrometry
ISO 13168, Water quality — Simultaneous determination of tritium and carbon 14 activities — Test method
using liquid scintillation counting
ISO 17294-2, Water quality — Application of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) —
Part 2: Determination of selected elements including uranium isotopes
ISO 19581, Measurement of radioactivity — Gamma emitting radionuclides — Rapid screening method
using scintillation detector gamma-ray spectrometry
ISO 20042, Measurement of radioactivity — Gamma-ray emitting radionuclides — Generic test method
using gamma-ray spectrometry
3 Terms and definitions
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at http:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org/
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
2 © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

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ISO 22017:2020(E)

3.1
emergency situation
non-routine situation or event that necessitates prompt action, primarily to mitigate a hazard or
adverse consequences for human health and safety, quality of life, property or the environment
Note 1 to entry: This includes nuclear and radiological emergencies and conventional emergencies such as
fires, release of hazardous chemicals, storms or earthquakes. It includes situations for which prompt action is
[14]
warranted to mitigate the effects of a perceived hazard .
3.2
intervention
any protective action or countermeasure aimed at reducing, or averting, human exposure to radiation
during a nuclear or radiological emergency
3.3
operational intervention level
OIL
set level of a measurable quantity that corresponds to a generic criterion
Note 1 to entry: OILs are calculated levels, measured by instruments or determined by laboratory analysis
that correspond to an intervention level or action level. These are typically expressed in terms of dose rates
or of activity of radioactive material released, time integrated air activity concentrations, ground or surface
concentrations, or activity concentrations of radionuclides in environmental, food or water samples. OILs are
used immediately and directly (without further assessment) to determine the appropriate protective actions on
[14]
the basis of an environmental measurement .
[SOURCE: IAEA safety glossary 2016 Rev. Mod]
3.4
reference level
level of dose or risk, in emergency or existing controllable exposure situations, above which it is judged
to be inappropriate to allow exposures to occur, and below which optimisation of protection should be
implemented
Note 1 to entry: Note1 to entry: The chosen value for a reference level depends upon the prevailing circumstances
[8][9]
of the exposure under consideration .
3.5
screening level
SL
value that takes into account the characteristics of the measuring equipment and the test method to
guarantee that the test results and their uncertainties obtained are fit for purpose for comparison with
the operational intervention levels (OILs) (3.3)
Note 1 to entry: For example, when the screening levels are not exceeded, the OILs are also note exceeded, and
the water is considered safe for consumption. If the screening level is exceeded so is the OIL and consumption of
non-essential food should be stopped, and essential food should be replaced or the people should be relocated if
[13][14]
replacements are not available .
3.6
intervention level
radiation dose above which a specific protective action is generally justified
3.7
iodine prophylaxis
administration of stable iodine to limit the uptake of inhaled/ingested radioactive iodine into the
thyroid gland
3.8
emergency exposure situation
situation of exposure where exposure at an elevated level is inevitable due to unexpected events or
needs of important action
© ISO 2020 – All rights reserved 3

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SIST EN ISO 22017:2021
ISO 22017:2020(E)

4 Guidance on emergency measurement
4.1 Objective of a specific rapid measurement
The type of nuclear or radiological emergency and the initial measurement results provide information
...

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN ISO 22017:2019
01-september-2019
Kakovost vode - Navodilo za hitre meritve radioaktivnosti v nujnih primerih
(ISO/DIS 22017:2019)
Water quality - Guidance for rapid radioactivity measurements in nuclear or radiological
emergency situation (ISO/DIS 22017:2019)
Wasserbeschaffenheit - Anleitung für Schnellverfahren zur Radioaktivitätsmessung
(ISO/DIS 22017:2019)
Qualité de l'eau - Guide pour les mesurages rapides de radioactivité en situation
d'urgence nucléaire ou radiologique (ISO/DIS 22017:2019)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN ISO 22017
ICS:
13.060.60 Preiskava fizikalnih lastnosti Examination of physical
vode properties of water
13.280 Varstvo pred sevanjem Radiation protection
17.240 Merjenje sevanja Radiation measurements
oSIST prEN ISO 22017:2019 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

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oSIST prEN ISO 22017:2019

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oSIST prEN ISO 22017:2019
DRAFT INTERNATIONAL STANDARD
ISO/DIS 22017
ISO/TC 147/SC 3 Secretariat: AFNOR
Voting begins on: Voting terminates on:
2019-07-09 2019-10-01
Water quality - Guidance for rapid radioactivity
measurements in nuclear or radiological emergency
situation
Qualité de l'eau — Guide pour les mesurages rapides de radioactivité en situation d'urgence nucléaire ou
radiologique
ICS: 13.060.60; 13.280; 17.240
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED
This document is circulated as received from the committee secretariat.
FOR COMMENT AND APPROVAL. IT IS
THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND MAY
NOT BE REFERRED TO AS AN INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD UNTIL PUBLISHED AS SUCH.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
ISO/CEN PARALLEL PROCESSING
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL,
TECHNOLOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND
USER PURPOSES, DRAFT INTERNATIONAL
STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE TO
BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR
POTENTIAL TO BECOME STANDARDS TO
WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE MADE IN
Reference number
NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
ISO/DIS 22017:2019(E)
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED
TO SUBMIT, WITH THEIR COMMENTS,
NOTIFICATION OF ANY RELEVANT PATENT
RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE AND TO
©
PROVIDE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION. ISO 2019

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oSIST prEN ISO 22017:2019
ISO/DIS 22017:2019(E)

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT
© ISO 2019
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting
on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address
below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
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Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Fax: +41 22 749 09 47
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

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Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 2
4 Specificity of emergency measurement . 4
4.1 Objective of a specific rapid measurement . 4
4.2 Routine screening levels versus intervention levels . 4
4.3 Operational intervention levels (OILs) from EU, USA and IAEA. 5
5 Rapid measurements . 5
5.1 Adaptation of the methods used . 5
5.2 Sampling . 6
5.3 Rapid test methods . 6
5.3.1 Pre-screening: identification of highest contaminated samples . 6
5.3.2 Selection of the analytical strategy . 6
5.3.3 Appropriate sample volumes and counting times related to intervention levels . 9
5.3.4 Gross-alpha and gross-beta determination and gamma spectrometry .10
5.3.5 Specific separations for alpha emitters or pure beta emitters measurement .11
6 Laboratory management to perform rapid measurements .11
6.1 Radioprotection of laboratory staff .11
6.2 Samples management .12
6.3 Material and staff .12
6.4 Quality management .12
6.5 Expression of results and test report .13
Annex A (informative) World Health Organization Screening for radionuclides in drinking
water .14
Annex B (informative) Operational Intervention Levels (OILs) from EU, US and IAEA .15
Annex C (informative) Overview of different types of rapid measurements during a nuclear
or radiological emergency.16
Annex D (informative) Example of a decision scheme for rapid measurements in the early
phase .17
Bibliography .18
© ISO 2019 – All rights reserved iii

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Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the following
URL: www .iso .org/iso/foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 147/SC3, Water quality, SC 3, Radioactivity
measurements.
iv © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

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Introduction
Radioactivity from several naturally-occurring and anthropogenic sources is present throughout
the environment. Thus, water bodies (e.g. surface waters, ground waters, sea waters) can contain
radionuclides of natural, human made, or both origins:
40 3 14
— Natural radionuclides, including K, H, C, and those originating from the thorium and uranium
226 228 234 238 210 210
decay series, in particular Ra, Ra, U, U, Po and Pb can be found in water for
natural reasons (e.g. desorption from the soil and washoff by rain water) or can be released from
technological processes involving naturally occurring radioactive materials (e.g. the mining and
processing of mineral sands or phosphate fertilizers production and use);
— Human-made radionuclides such as transuranium elements (americium, plutonium, neptunium and
3 14 90
curium), H, C, Sr, and some gamma emitting radionuclides can also be found in natural waters.
Small quantities of these radionuclides may be discharged from nuclear fuel cycle facilities into
the environment as the result of authorized routine releases. Some of these radionuclides used for
medical and industrial applications are also released into the environment after use. Anthropogenic
radionuclides are also found in waters as the result of past fallout contaminations resulting from
the explosion in the atmosphere of nuclear devices and accidents such as those that occurred in
Chernobyl and Fukushima.
Radionuclide activity concentration in water bodies can vary according to local geological
characteristics and climatic conditions and can be locally and temporally enhanced by releases from
[[1]]
nuclear installation during planned, existing, and emergency exposure situations . Drinking-water
may thus contain radionuclides at activity concentrations which could present a risk to human health.
The radionuclides present in liquid effluents are usually controlled before being discharged into
[[2]]
the environment and water bodies. Drinking waters are monitored for their radioactivity as
[[3]]
recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) so that proper actions can be taken to ensure
that there is no adverse health effect to the public. Following these international recommendations,
national regulations usually specify radionuclide authorized concentration limits for liquid effluent
discharged to the environment and radionuclide guidance levels for waterbodies and drinking waters
for planned, existing, and emergency exposure situations. Compliance with these limits can be assessed
using measurement results with their associated uncertainties as requested by ISO/IEC Guide 98-3
[4]
and ISO 5667-20 .
Depending of the exposure situation, there are different limits and guidance levels that would result in
an action to reduce health risk.
NOTE 1 The guidance level is the activity concentration with an intake of 2 l/d of drinking water for one year,
that results in an effective dose of 0,1 mSv/a for members of the public. This is an effective dose that represents a
[3]
very low level of risk that is not expected to give rise to any detectable adverse health effect .
[5]
In the event of a nuclear emergency, the WHO Codex Guideline Levels indicates the activity
concentrations corresponding to operational intervention levels.
NOTE 2 The Codex guidelines levels (GLs) apply to radionuclides contained in foods destined for human
consumption and traded internationally, which have been contaminated following a nuclear or radiological
emergency. These GLs apply to food after reconstitution or as prepared for consumption, i.e. not to dried or
concentrated foods, and are based on an intervention exemption level of 1 mSv in a year for members of the
[5]
public (infant and adult) .
Thus, the test method can be adapted so that the characteristic limits, decision threshold and detection
limit, and the uncertainties ensure that the radionuclide activity concentration test results can be
verified to be below the guidance levels required by a national authority for either planned-existing
[6][7]
situations or an emergency situation .
Usually, the test methods can be adjusted to measure the activity concentration of the radionuclide(s)
in either wastewaters before storage or in liquid effluents before being discharged to the environment.
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The test results will enable the plant/installation operator to verify that, before their discharge,
wastewaters/liquid effluent radioactive activity concentrations do not exceed authorized limits.
The test methods described in this document for emergency exposure situations may also be used
during planned, existing exposure situations as well as for wastewaters and liquid effluents with
specific modifications that could change the overall uncertainty, detection limit, and threshold.
The test method(s) may be used for water samples after proper sampling, sample handling, and test
sample preparation (see the relevant part of ISO 5667- series).
This document has been developed to answer the need of test laboratories carrying out these
measurements that may be required by national authorities during a nuclear or radiological emergency
exposure situation.
This document is one of a set of International Standards on test methods dealing with the measurement
of the activity concentration of radionuclides in water samples.
The ISO standards produced for radioactivity measurements in water are detailed methods. In most
cases, these methods have been used in laboratory practice for a number of years and the analytical
characteristics have been documented. However, these methods are generally time consuming and
require well trained analysts to carry them out.
Over the last years, an increasing need was recognized for the addition of guidance on the use of so-
called “rapid methods”. The nuclear accident at Fukushima in March 2011 accentuated the need for
these rapid measurements. During the initial stages of such incidents, decision makers have had to deal
with taking protective measures for the population, such as sheltering, evacuation, and the distribution
of iodine prophylaxis. It has been found that time is critical and limited for taking these protective
measures.
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oSIST prEN ISO 22017:2019
DRAFT INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/DIS 22017:2019(E)
Water quality - Guidance for rapid radioactivity
measurements in nuclear or radiological emergency
situation
1 Scope
This document provides guidelines to enable testing laboratory using rapid test methods on all types of
water samples that may be contaminated following a nuclear or radiological emergency situation:
— taking into account the specific context for the tests to be performed, e.g. an unknown and potentially
unusual high level of contamination;
— using or adjusting, when possible, radioactivity test method implemented during routine situation
to obtain a result rapidly or applying specific rapid test methods previously validated by the
89
laboratory, e.g. for Sr determination;
— preparing the test laboratory to measure a large number of potentially contaminated samples.
The aim of this document is to ensure decision makers have reliable results needed to take actions on
time and minimize the dose to the public.
Measurements are performed in order to minimize the risk for the public in checking the water quality
of water supplies. For emergency situations, test results are compared to operational intervention levels.
[13]
Note Operational intervention levels (OILs) are derived from IAEA Safety Standards or national
[5]
authorities .
A key can be to use the usual and routine methods in a faster manner. The goal of these rapid
measurements is often to check an unusual radioactivity level in the test sample, to identify the
radionuclides and their activity concentration levels and to establish compliance of the sampled water
[21]
with intervention levels . It should be noted that in such circumstances validation parameters are
not always valid (impossible use of standard measuring geometries for gamma spectrometry…) and
thus uncertainties associated with the test results may increase.
The first steps of the analytical approach is usually based on gross alpha and gross beta test methods
considered as screening methods (adaptation of ISO 10704 and ISO 11704) and gamma spectrometry
[3]
(adaptation of ISO 20042, ISO 10703 and ISO 19581). Then, when necessary , test method standards
90
for specific radionuclides are adapted and applied (for example, Sr measurement following ISO 13160)
as proposed in Annex A.
This document refers to a set of already published ISO standards. When appropriate, this document
also refers to national standards or other publically available documents.
Screening techniques that can be carried out directly in the field are not part of this document.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 5667-1, Water quality— Sampling — Part 1: Guidance on the design of sampling programmes and
sampling techniques
ISO 5667-3, Water quality — Sampling — Part 3: Preservation and handling of water samples
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ISO 9696, Water quality — Gross alpha activity — Test method using thick source
ISO 9697, Water quality — Gross beta activity — Test method using thick source
ISO 9698, Water quality — Tritium — Test method using liquid scintillation counting
ISO 10703, Water quality — Determination of the activity concentration of radionuclides — Method by
high resolution gamma-ray spectrometry
ISO 10704, Water quality — Gross alpha and gross beta activity — Test method using thin source deposit
ISO 11704, Water quality — Gross alpha and gross beta activity — Test method using liquid scintillation
counting
ISO 17025, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
ISO 13160, Water quality — Strontium 90 and strontium 89 — Test methods using liquid scintillation
counting or proportional counting
ISO 13161, Water quality — Measurement of polonium 210 activity concentration in water by alpha
spectrometry
ISO 13162, Water quality — Determination of carbon 14 activity — Liquid scintillation counting method
ISO 13163, Water quality — Lead-210 — Test method using liquid scintillation counting
ISO 13165-1, Water quality — Radium-226 — Part 1: Test method using liquid scintillation counting
ISO 13165-2, Water quality — Radium-226 — Part 2: Test method using emanometry
ISO 13165-3, Water quality — Radium-226 — Part 3: Test method using coprecipitation and gamma-
spectrometry
ISO 13166, Water quality — Uranium isotopes — Test method using alpha-spectrometry
ISO 13167, Water quality — Plutonium, americium, curium and neptunium — Test method using alpha
spectrometry
ISO 13168, Water quality — Simultaneous determination of tritium and carbon 14 activities — Test method
using liquid scintillation counting
ISO 17294-2, Water quality — Application of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) —
Part 2: Determination of selected elements including uranium isotopes
ISO 19581, Measurement of radioactivity — Gamma emitting radionuclides — Rapid screening method
using scintillation detector gamma-ray spectrometry
ISO 20042, Measurement of radioactivity — Gamma-ray emitting radionuclides — Generic test method
using gamma-ray spectrometry
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at http: //www .iso .org/obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at http: //www .electropedia .org/
2 © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

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3.1
emergency situation
non-routine situation or event that necessitates prompt action, primarily to mitigate a hazard or
adverse consequences for human health and safety, quality of life, property or the environment
Note 1 to entry: This includes nuclear and radiological emergencies and conventional emergencies such as
fires, release of hazardous chemicals, storms or earthquakes. It includes situations for which prompt action is
[7]
warranted to mitigate the effects of a perceived hazard .
3.2
intervention
any protective action or countermeasure aimed at reducing, or averting, human exposure to radiation
during a nuclear or radiological emergency
3.3
operational intervention level
OIL
set level of a measurable quantity that corresponds to a generic criterion
[SOURCE: IAEA safety glossary 2016 Rev. Mod]
Note 1 to entry: OILs are calculated levels, measured by instruments or determined by laboratory analysis
that corresponds to an intervention level or action level. These are typically expressed in terms of dose rates
or of activity of radioactive material released, time integrated air activity concentrations, ground or surface
concentrations, or activity concentrations of radionuclides in environmental, food or water samples. OILs are
used immediately and directly (without further assessment) to determine the appropriate protective actions
on the basis of an environmental measurement [IAEA GS-R-7 (2015) Preparedness and Response for a Nuclear or
Radiological Emergency General Safety Requirements (Jointly sponsored by FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ILO, IMO, INTERPOL,
[7]
OECD/NEA, PAHO, CTBTO, UNEP, OCHA, WHO, WMO)] .
3.4
reference level
level of dose or risk, in emergency or existing controllable exposure situations, above which it is judged
to be inappropriate to plan to allow exposures to occur, and below which optimisation of protection
should be implemented
Note 1 to entry: The chosen value for a reference level depends upon the prevailing circumstances of the exposure
[1]
under consideration .
3.5
screening level
SL
value that takes into account the characteristics of the measuring equipment and the test method to
guarantee that the test result and its uncertainty obtained are fit for purpose for comparison with the
operational intervention levels (OILs)
Note 1 to entry: For example, when the screening levels are not exceeded so are the OILs and the food is
considered safe for consumption. If the screening level is exceeded so is the OIL and consumption of non-essential
food should be stopped, and essential food should be replaced or the people should be relocated if replacements
[8]
are not available .
3.6
intervention level
radiation dose above which a specific protective action is generally justified
3.7
iodine prophylaxis
administration of stable iodine to limit the uptake of inhaled/ingested radioactive iodine into the
thyroid gland
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3.8
emergency exposure situation
situation of exposure where exposure at an elevated level is inevitable due to unexpected events or
needs of important action
4 Specificity of emergency measurement
4.1 Objective of a specific rapid measurement
The type of nuclear or radiological emergency and the initial measurement results provide the
information on the radionuclide or radionuclide mix that is released and the magnitude of total activity
that shall be assessed.
At the first step, rapid measurement can be performed for a purpose of screening, e.g. to determine
whether the sample is significantly contaminated or not.
In a second step, rapid measurement can be carried out in order to further confirm the radionuclide or
mix of radionuclides in the water sample, and to estimate their activity concentrations.
When these information are known, the rapid measurement should therefore demonstrate that a fixed
value of activity concentration is exceeded or not (compliance to OIL).
In a later phase of an emergency situation, when a number of protective measures have been taken in
order to minimize the dose to the public, measurements are also aimed to verify the justification of
these protective measures, such as the evacuation planning, emergency sheltering, food restriction and
providing iodine prophylaxis to public members.
Decision trees are used to determine which test methods should be applied. These methods are usual
routine test methods in use in testing laboratories, with a description on how to adapt them during an
emergency situation and when existing ISO standards should be applied.
In Table 1, a general overview is given on high priority issues, duration and goals in the phases described
above. These issues depend on the type and scale of the nuclear or radiological emergency situation.
Table 1 — Overview of duration, high priority issues and goal in early, intermediate and
recovery phases
Phases High priority Main goal WATER is concerned
Early phase Nuclide identity, large picture of geo- Protective measures for public, cattle live-
(first days) graphic extent of contaminated area. stock, agriculture, water.
Intervention levels exceeded?
Intermediate phase Large number of samples, detailed pic- Evaluate the taken countermeasures with
(days – weeks) ture of contaminated area. Focus on food measurement data.
chain and water. May people return to their homes?
Evaluation of areas where intervention Is food safe to eat? Is water safe to drink?
levels are exceeded. Monitoring and sampling in large areas,
agricultural and urban.
Recovery phase More detailed sampling and analyses with Continue monitoring and sampling more in
(weeks – months) lower detection limits for food and water. depth in agricultural and urban areas: Food
chain and water reservoirs, surface waters.
4.2 Routine screening levels versus intervention levels
In normal situations, the World Health Organization (WHO) has defined routine screening levels for
−1
drinking-water, below which no further action is required. These screening levels are 0,5 Bq.l for
−1
gross alpha activity and 1 Bq.l for gross beta activity. If neither of these values is exceeded, the Total
Indicative Dose of 0,1 mSv/year is also not exceeded.
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In case of an emergency situation, intervention levels are de
...

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