DIN ISO 18589-2:2015-10

In-situ gamma spectrometry is an effective method to get a quick assessment of the activity in the soil and the local dose rate of the radionuclide generated. It is a powerful measuring method for the nuclide-specific determination of gamma-emitting radionuclides in and on the ground. It represents a direct measurement method in which the generally very time-consuming and labour-intensive sampling is eliminated. However, the quantitative evaluation of the recorded pulse height spectra requires the selection of suitable measuring areas. Knowledge of certain physical properties of the soil and the distribution of radionuclides in the soil are also required. This Part 2 of the DIN EN ISO 18589 (VDE 0493-4) series, based on ISO 11074 and ISO/IEC 17025, describes the general requirements for all steps of planning the sampling and pre-treatment of the samples to be examined. This includes the selection of the sampling strategy, the elaboration of the sampling plan, the presentation of the general sampling methods and equipment as well as the pre-treatment of the samples. It is directed at persons who are responsible for determining the radioactivity in the soil as part of radiation protection. This applies to soil in gardens, arable land, urban areas and industrial areas as well as to soils that are not contaminated by human activities. The responsible committee is Joint Subcommittee GUK 967.2 "Aktivitätsmessgeräte für den Strahlenschutz" ("Radiation protection instrumentation") of the DKE (German Commission for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies) at DIN and VDE.