Freshwater suspended particles: An intercomparison of long-term integrating sampling systems used for environmental radioactivity monitoring

Sampling and sample preparation are known to carry large, but typically unknown uncertainty contributions to the final analytical data and there is a lack of qualitative and quantitative data on the comparability of results achieved by different sampling methods. To this end an intercomparison exercise was carried out to compare different methods for the collection of suspended material used for the monitoring of environmental radioactivity in freshwater bodies. This paper presents the results of this intercomparison exercise in which 'in situ' particulate sampling devices were compared in field exercises performed in the Kiev Reservoir (Ukraine) and in the Po River (Italy). The main criterion for this intercomparison was the agreement among the 137Cs activity concentrations associated with the suspended particles expressed as Bq x g-1 and among the (C/N) molar ratios measured on the suspended particles. In addition, an estimate of the uncertainties associated with each measuring method has been performed. (author)