Intercomparison exercise for the estimation of low levels of man made gamma emitters in soil sample

The Low Level Counting Laboratory of Egad, BARC participated in the Proficiency Test organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Intercomparison exercise is the mean for quality assurance and quality control of the system hence to provide good quality analytical result for important decision making. This paper discusses the data evaluation of the analysis result for estimating the low levels of man made gamma emitters in soil sample. 54Mn, 60Co, 65Zn, 137Cs, 210Pb, 241Am were analysed in the sample by using p-type HPGe coupled gamma spectrometry system. The analysis result of 241Am was not matching with IAEA value and 210Pb was not reported. This is attributed to the fact that the low energy photons (∼60 keV) are getting attenuated in coaxial p-type HPGe detector because of the large thickness (∼600m) of the outer contact. Except 210Pb and 241Am, the analysis result of this laboratory passed in the evaluation criteria stipulated by IAEA. (author)