technical BRIEF
BUILDING A SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATION FOR SOUND ENVIRONMENTAL DECISIONS
www.epa.gov/research
Validation of Rapid Radiochemical Method for Californium-252 in Water, Air
Particulate Filters, Swipes and Soils for Environmental Remediation
Following Radiological Incidents
INTRODUCTION
I n the event of a radiological/nuclear contamination event, the
response community would need tools and methodologies to
rapidly assess the nature and the extent of contamination. To
characterize a radiologically contaminated outdoor area and to
inform risk assessment, large numbers of environmental
samples would be collected and analyzed over a short period of
time. To address the challenge of quickly providing analytical
results to the field, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) developed a robust analytical method. This method allows
response officials to characterize contaminated areas and to
assess the effectiveness of remediation efforts, both rapidly and
accurately, in the intermediate and late phases of environmental
cleanup. Improvement in sample processing and analysis leads
to increased laboratory capacity to handle the analysis of a
large number of samples following the intentional or
unintentional release of a radiological/nuclear contaminant.
Califomium-2 52
In 2005, the Integrated Consortium of Laboratory Networks
(ICLN) was formed by ten federal agencies with laboratory
networks across the government. The agencies recognized
the need to ensure adequate laboratory infrastructure to
support response and recovery actions following a major
radiological/nuclear incident. The ICLN provides a national
infrastructure with coordinated and operational laboratory
network systems that provide timely, high-quality, and
interpretable results for early detection and effective
response consequence management. In 2006, EPA's
Homeland Security Research Program (HSRP) established
a relationship with EPA's Office of Radiation and Indoor Air
(ORIA) in response to laboratory capacity needs in support
of EPA's Environmental Response Laboratory Network
(ERLN) and the ICLN. The HSRP and ORIA coordinate
radiological reference laboratory priorities and activities in
conjunction with EPA's Partner Process. As part of the
collaboration, HSRP worked with ORIA to publish a rapid
radioanalytical method for analysis of Californium-252
(252Cf) in environmental matrices.
EPA's Homeland Security
Research Program (HSRP)
develops products based on
scientific research and technology
evaluations. Our products and
expertise are widely used in
preventing, preparing for, and
recovering from public health and
environmental emergencies that
arise from terrorist attacks or
natural disasters. Our research
and products address biological,
radiological, or chemical
contaminants that could affect
indoor areas, outdoor areas, or
water infrastructure. HSRP
provides these products, technical
assistance, and expertise to
support EPA's roles and
responsibilities under the National
Response Framework, statutory
requirements, and Presidential
Directives.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development, Homeland Security Research Program
EPA/600/S-16/272
September 2016

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RAPID RADIOCHEMICAL ANALYTICAL METHODS DEVELOPMENT
The anticipated demand for analysis of pure alpha emitters such as 252Cf in contaminated
environmental samples resulting from a radiological dispersal device (RDD) scenario would
present significant challenges to responding laboratories. Such a scenario would result in
sample throughput demands orders of magnitude greater than levels that laboratories currently
experience. This would quickly overwhelm their ability to provide the radioanalytical results
needed to support decision-making.
Selected Analytical Methods for Environmental Remediation and Recovery (SAM) 2012,
EPA/600/R-12/555, lists methods for select radionuclides to be used to evaluate the nature and
extent of contamination and the effectiveness of decontamination. The methods listed in SAM
are well-established, well-proven methods used for screening, compliance monitoring and site-
cleanup activities but were not developed for cases where quickness and high throughput were
concerns. This method represents the first performance-tested, rapid method available for
analysis of 252Cf in four environmental matrices (water, air particulate filters, swipes, and soils) in
response to a radiological incident.
Development and use of this californium rapid method by the ERLN-member laboratories fulfills
the need for consistent and accurate analysis in the face of a large number of samples over a
short period of time. Using this method will improve confidence in the data, permit sharing of the
sample load between laboratories, improve data comparability, simplify the task of outsourcing
analytical support to the commercial laboratory sector, and improve the follow-up activities of
validating results, evaluating data, and making risk-management decisions. The rapid method
will also accelerate existing analytical throughput times so that each laboratory can process a
larger number of samples per day.
This is the first issue of a rapid method for 252Cf in water, air particulate filters, soil, and swipe
samples. Single laboratory validation testing shows that the method can achieve required
objectives that are based on conservative risk or dose values for the intermediate and late
phases of an emergency response. The methods also have been tested to determine the time
within which a batch of samples can be analyzed. For the matrices of interest, analysis results
for a batch of samples contaminated with 252Cf can be provided to the field within 8 hours for
water samples; 10 hours for air particulate filters; 9.75 hours for soil samples; and 11.25 hours
for swipe samples. Table 1 provides information for each matrix type.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development, Homeland Security Research Program
EPA/600/S-16/272
September 2016 2

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Table 1: Californium-252 Environmental Methods*
Matrix
Analytical Action
Level
Minimum Detectable
Concentration **
Estimated Time to
Obtain Sample
Analysis Results
Water
15 pCi/L
1.5 pCi/L
8 hours
Air Filters
4.4 pCi/filter
0.44 pCi/filter
10 hours
Soils
1.4 pCi/g
0.14 pCi/g
9.75 hours
Swipes
0.89 pCi/swipe or filter
0.15 pCi/swipe or filter
11.25 hours
* Information in table taken from the method listed below.
**pCi = picocurie
The new method will accelerate the analytical turnaround time necessary leading to quicker
sample processing. It also provides quantitative results that meet measurement quality
objectives. The methods are designed to be used during the intermediate and late phases of the
emergency response to a nuclear or radiological incident of national significance, such as the
detonation of an improvised nuclear device or a radiological dispersal device. It should be noted
that the method was not developed for compliance monitoring and should not be considered as
having EPA approval for that or any other regulatory program.
LINK TO CALIFORNIUM-252 METHOD
Validation of Rapid Radiochemical Method for Californium-252 in Water, Air Particulate Filters,
Swipes and Soils for Environmental Remediation Following Radiological Incidents, EPA 402-
R16-002, Revision 0, July 2016. https://www.epa.gov/radiation/rapid-radiochemical-methods-
selected-radionuclides
CONTACT INFORMATION
For more information, visit the EPA Web site at https://www.epa.gov/homeland-security-
research.
Technical Contacts: John Griggs (griggs.iohn@epa.gov): Kathy Hall (hall.kathy@epa.gov)
General Feedback/Questions: Kathy Nickel (nickel.kathy@epa.gov)
If you have difficulty accessing this PDF document, please contact Kathy Nickel
(Nickel.Kathy@epa.gov) or Amelia McCall (McCall.Amelia@epa.gov) for assistance.
EPA/600/S-16/272
September 2016

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