Measurement of radioactivity - Gamma emitting radionuclides - Rapid screening method using scintillation detector gamma-ray spectrometry (ISO 19581:2017); German version EN ISO 19581:2020

Everyone is exposed to natural radiation. The natural sources of radiation are cosmic rays and naturally occurring radioactive substances found in the soil and within the human body. Human activities such as the use of radiation and radioactive substances produce radiation exposure in addition to natural radiation. Some of these activities, such as mining and the use of ores that contain natural radioactive substances, and power generation by burning coal that contains such substances, increase exposure from natural radioactive substances. Nuclear reactors and other nuclear facilities use radioactive materials and generate radioactive wastewater and radioactive waste during their operation and decommissioning. The use of radioactive materials in industry, agriculture, and research is increasing around the globe. All of these human activities generally result in radiation exposures that are only a small fraction of the average global level of natural radiation exposure. Medical use of radiation is the largest and growing human-induced source of radiation exposures in developed countries. It includes diagnostic radiology, radiation therapy, nuclear medicine, and interventional radiology. Radiation exposure also occurs as a result of occupational activities. It concerns industrial, medical, and research workers during the use of radioactive materials, as well as in passengers and crew of airplanes during flight and astronauts. The average level of occupational exposures is generally similar to the average global level of natural radiation exposure. According to a recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO), the environment and food are regularly monitored to determine potential human exposures to radioactivity. The purpose of this is to provide recommendations for reducing health risk through measures to reduce activity concentrations. The standard describes, after appropriate sampling, sample handling and sample preparation, a screening procedure to rapidly quantify the activity concentration of radio-iodine and radio-cesium in samples from the environment and from foodstuffs in emergency situations using a scintillation spectrometer. The responsible body is DKE/GK 851 "Activity measuring instruments for radiation protection" of the DKE German Commission for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies in DIN and VDE. This standard supersedes DIN ISO 19581:2018-07; VDE 0493-581:2018-07. Compared to DIN ISO 19581 (VDE 0493-581):2018-07, the following changes have been made: a) the requirements have been adopted as a European Standard.