Radiochemical determination of strontium-90 in soil samples from the central area of Iran by Cerenkov counting

A number of studies by the Radiation Public Health Project assert that levels of radioactive Sr-90 are rising in the environment and that these increased levels are responsible for increases in cancer, particularly cancers in children, and infant mortality. Sr-90 is a uranium and plutonium fission by-product in nuclear reactors and nuclear accident. Following the release of Sr-90 in environment and the food chain, therefore measurement of Sr-90 in environment sample would be important. In this paper radiochemical method for measurement of Sr-90 were based on separation of Y-90 (decay product of Sr-90) with tributhylphosphate (TBP) and followed by the preconcentration by precipitation with ammonium oxalate and source preparation for determination by low level liquid scintillation spectrometer respectively. The lower minimum detectable activity (MAD) for 1000 min counting time was 0.60 Bq/Kg for 53.9% confidence level. (Author)