Description of BS EN ISO 13163:2022 2022
This document specifies a method for the measurement of 210Pb in all types of waters by liquid scintillation
counting (LSC).
The method is applicable to test samples of supply/drinking
water, rainwater, surface and ground water, as well as cooling
water, industrial water, domestic, and industrial wastewater after
proper sampling and handling, and test sample preparation.
Filtration of the test sample is necessary. Lead?210 activity
concentration in the environment can vary and usually ranges from
2 mBq l-1 to 300 mBq l-1 [ 27 ][ 28 ].
Using currently available liquid scintillation counters, the
limit of detection of this method for 210Pb is generally of the order of 20 mBq l-1 to 50 mBq l-1, which is lower than the WHO criteria for safe
consumption of drinking water (100Â mBq l?1).[ 4 ][ 6 ] These values can be achieved with a counting time
between 180Â min and 720Â min for a sample volume from 0,5Â l to
1,5Â l. Higher activity concentrations can be measured by either
diluting the sample or using smaller sample aliquots or both. The
method presented in this document is not intended for the
determination of an ultra-trace amount of 210Pb.
The range of application depends on the amount of dissolved
material in the water and on the performance characteristics of the
measurement equipment (background count rate and counting
efficiency).
The method described in this document is applicable to an
emergency situation.
The analysis of Pb adsorbed to suspended matter is not covered
by this method.
It is the user’s responsibility to ensure the validity of this
test method for the water samples tested.
About BSI
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