Radioactive parameters in food and water testing

Food we eat and water we drink may possibly contain both naturally-occurring and man-made radionuclides. When people consume radiation exposed food, it may lead to certain health complications. This radioactivity in food and water cannot be detected by people on their own. Hence, it is necessary for the analytical water and food testing laboratories to know the permissible amounts of radionuclides in food and drinking water. This knowledge can keep a check on their distribution.

Occurrence of radioactivity

Radioactive substances or chemicals emit ionizing radiation and thus radiological hazards occur in water and food substances. There are two sources from which radioactivity will be delivered.

Naturally occurring radioactivity – this category represents major part of the radioactivity in the food chain. This is a combination of both terrestrial and cosmic radiation. The presence of this radiation in food can be a result of root uptake from the soil. Also, direct deposition from the atmosphere onto crops or transfer of these substances through aquatic route (both fresh water and sea water). The pathway for the absorption of radionuclides in drinking water is when water passes over rocks and solids.

Examples of naturally occurring radioactive substances include - potassium-40, polonium-210, and uranium-238, uranium-235 and their products such as Radon-222, Radium-226, thorium-232 are there right from the origin of the earth. Tritium and Carbon-14 are continuously formed in the atmosphere.

Man-made radioactivity – this category represents a smaller portion in food and drinking water. Major source for human made radioactivity emitted into the environment has been the fallout after nuclear weapon tests conducted in the 1960s and during an accident in Chernobyl in 1986. Measurable amounts of radioactive substances can be still found in many foodstuffs during recovery phase of a nuclear or radiological emergency. Example include Caesium-137.

The approach for controlling radiological hazards involves two stages -

• Initial screening for gross alpha or beta activity and determining their activity concentrations in Bq/Kg.
• If the recommended levels are exceeded, then concentrations of individual radionuclides will be determined and comparison with specific guidance levels.

Regulatory landscape

Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and World Health Organisation (WHO) collectively contributed to the development of international standards relating to the control of radioactivity in food and drinking water.

Criteria for Radionuclide Activity Concentrations for Food and Drinking Water (TECDOC 1788), an IAEA publication summarizes these international standards and provides clarification for the circumstances in which standard applies. Ie publication also discusses quality and safety management in certain cases where some foods like wild mushrooms, game meat contain radionuclides in elevated levels over a long period of time. TECDOC 1788 forms the necessary background material for future harmonization of international standards for radioactivity.

The radioactivity spread into the environment locally, and entered the food chain via water, air and soil. Food and water testing analytical laboratories took up the responsibility in offering reasonable and comprehensive monitoring systems to assess the risk of radioactive levels in food stuffs and water.

Eurofins contribution for radioactivity testing in food and drinking water:

Eurofins’ expertise in the field of radioactivity is based on more than 20 years' experience.

The Competence Centre Eurofins performs the analysis of iodine-131, caesium-134 and caesium-137 using state-of-the-art γ-spectrometry with either high-resolution germanium semiconductor or sodium iodide scintillation detectors.

A global network of our Eurofins laboratories offers radioactivity testing of water, food, and also raw materials. List of radioactive substances we have expertise including but not limited to

• Caesium 134, Caesium 137
• Iodine 131
• Radium 226, Radium 228
• Strontium 90
• Uranium 234, Uranium 235, Uranium 238
• Lead 210
• Carbon 14
• Cobalt 60
• Plutonium 238, Plutonium 239/240

Additional radionuclides as per the requirement of our clients can be determined on request.

In addition, we have the necessary expertise and state of the art equipment to analyse the elements (not radio nuclides) like Uranium, Strontium and Thorium using ICPMS.

Radioactivity testing in Eurofins (γ-spectrometry)

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