Rapid determination of Sr-90 in environmental matrices by SPE-ICP-MS for emergency monitoring

Fujiwara, Kenso ; Yanagisawa, Kayo*; Iijima, Kazuki  

Since Strontium-90 (Sr-90) is one of the high yield and hazardous fission products, accurate and low-level detection of Sr-90 is essential for environmental samples. Especially, in case of nuclear power plant accidents, rapid and precise assessment of Sr-90 for environmental monitoring and health physics is required. In order to evaluate the migration of radionuclides in the environment, not only Sr-90 in water but also those in soil and biological samples should be measured. A new method for rapid quantification of Sr-90 by online solid phase extraction coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SPE-ICP-MS) has been developed. In this method, it is unavoidable to eliminate the interference by polyatomic ion (e.g., ArCa, Ca) induced by isotopes and matrices in fishes and soil. In this study, SPE-ICP-MS method was applied to the measurement of Sr-90 in fishes, and the influence of the Sr isotopes and coexisting ions such as Ca was evaluated.