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Radioecological Laboratory

The Radioecological Laboratory houses Gamma Spectroscopy instrumentation that is capable of carrying out radioactivity measurements in Food, Agricultural products and also Environmental Radiation assessments. It also houses an Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) system that is capable of analysing the heavy metal composition/concentrations in food and other materials, and also the metal composition of alloys. These instruments are used to provide the following analytical services for both research and commercial purposes.

Gamma Spectroscopy

Sample Type

Amount

(200 -500g)

Analysis (Radionuclides)

Natural

Anthropogenic

Bulk materials. (Soil, dust, waste materials)

200 - 500 g

Pb-214, Pb-212, Pb-210, Bi-212, Bi-214, K-40

Cs-137, Cs-134,  I-131, Co-60

Food & Nutrition (crops, meat, seafood, processed food)

1 kg – 1.5 kg

Pb-214, Pb-212, Pb-210, Bi-212, Bi-214, K-40

Cs-137, Cs-134,  I-131, Co-60

Mining materials (Bauxite, Redmud, etc)

1 kg – 1.5 kg

Pb-214, Pb-212, Pb-210, Bi-212, Bi-214, K-40

Cs-137, Cs-134, I-131, Co-60

Building Materials (cement, grout, blocks, bricks)

1 kg – 1.5 kg

Pb-214, Pb-212, Pb-210, Bi-212, Bi-214, K-40

Cs-137, Cs-134,  I-131, Co-60

 

Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence

Sample Type

Amount of sample required

 

Analysis (Example of Elements analysed)

Bulk Geological sample

Soil, waste, bauxite, mining materials

20 - 100 g

Mo, Zr, Sr, Pb, Au, Se, As, Hg, Zn, W, Cu, Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Cr, V, Ca, K, S, Ba, Sb, Sn, Cd, Ag

Plastics, cups, car accessories, plastic bottles, toys

 

 

Air particulate matter on filter paper or Suspended solids on filter paper

 

Mo, Zr, Sr, Pb, Au, Se, As, Hg, Zn, W, Cu, Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Cr, V, Ca, K, S, Ba, Sb, Sn, Cd, Ag

Scrap metals, alloy, alumina

 

Mo, Zr, Sr, Pb, Au, Se, As, Hg, Zn, W, Cu, Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Cr, V, Ca, K, S, Ba, Sb, Sn, Cd, Ag

Consumer Goods, toys, ceramics, furniture

 

 

Industrial materials (e.g. cement, glass bottles, etc)

 

 

Heavy metals in Foodstuff:

Crops, medicinal plants (e.g. tea and herbs)

 

 

 

Radon Analysis

Sample Type

Amount of sample required

Analysis (Example of Elements analysed)

Comments

Water (small)

250ml

Rn 224, Rn 222

 

Water (continuous sample)

-

Rn 224, Rn 222

 

Air (2month)

-

Rn 224

1 per floor/home

Soil gas

-

Rn 224, Rn 222

 

 

For further information please contact:

Prof. M. Voutchkov

Department of Physics

The University of the West Indies Mona,

Tel: 927-2480

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