The primary lines of the Department of Radiochemical and Spectrometric Research are:
- analytical and experimental activities in the field of radioecology and ecology;
- involvement in assessing the environmental health at the former locations of nuclear tests, in regions of adverse ecological situation, around nuclear facilities and in the adjacent areas;
- development and try-outs of novel measurement procedures, as well as adaptation of the existing ones for the content of man-made and naturally occurring radionuclides including elements in environmental compartments.
Laboratory of nuclear and physical analysis techniques
The primary objectives of the laboratory of nuclear and physical analysis techniques are:
- measurements of the activities of naturally occurring and man-made radionuclides in various environmental compartments, construction materials, foodstuffs and human substrates;
- assessment of radiation burdens from human internal and external exposure;
- improvement of spectrometric techniques for the determination of radionuclides.
The laboratory has available an up-to-date highly precise equipment manufactured by the famous global manufacturers: Canberra, Ortec, Packard, Wallac, Revvity. All the laboratory tests are conducted in compliance with requirements of the regulatory documentation, according to the procedures entered in the State Registry of RK. The quality system applicable in the laboratory enables the quality control by way of comparison tests provided by the IAEA, Almera and intralaboratory control.
Elemental analysis laboratory
ОDetermination of the elemental and isotopic composition of various environmental compartments (water, soil, bottom sediments, vegetation, aerosols, biosubstrates, farm products and foodstuffs, construction materials etc.) by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission and mass-spectrometry. The elements to be identified involve a range from lithium (Li) to uranium (U).
Radiochemical research laboratory
The primary objectives of the radiochemical research laboratory are:
- radiochemical analysis to determine the content of artificial and natural radionuclides;
- development and try-out of novel measurement procedures, as well as adaption of the existing ones for the determination of the content of natural and artificial radionuclides in environmental compartments;
- experimental efforts in radioecology and ecology.
Work quality service
The work quality service’s primary objectives are:
- arrangement of ongoing operation of management systems;
- development, harmonization and updating of documentation to enable the operation of management systems in subdivisions supervised by a deputy head of the department;
- preparation of environmental samples for instrumental measurements, as well as for a radiochemical and elemental analysis under research programs, R&D and as part of experiments;
- arrangement of temporarily stored environmental samples;
- quality control efforts in sample preparation;
- activities to manage technical means in the department.
