Decay/ingrowth uncertainty correction of (210)Po/(210)Pb in seawater. 2014

Wuhui Lin, and Hao Ma, and Liqi Chen, and Zhi Zeng, and Jianhua He, and Shi Zeng
Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Key Laboratory of Particle & Radiation Imaging (Tsinghua University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100084, China; Lab of Marine Isotopic Technology and Environmental Risk Assessment, State Oceanic Administration, Xiamen 361005, China; Key Lab of Global Change and Marine-Atmospheric Chemistry, State Oceanic Administration, Xiamen 361005, China; Third Institution of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Xiamen 361005, China.

Due to increasing application of (210)Po/(210)Pb in studying particle dynamics, a consistent procedure and calculation to derive accurate and precise result of (210)Po and (210)Pb in seawater should be proposed in the framework of intercalibration by GEOTRACES. The associated uncertainty of radioactivity, which is a significant component of data report, plays a vital role in intercomparison and should be well evaluated. Although measurement uncertainty of laboratory result was well defined in ISO standards and IAEA technical documents, the decay/ingrowth uncertainty correction from laboratory result to in-situ result was less studied. It was demonstrated that the relative uncertainty of in-situ (210)Pb activity was independent of elapsed time and equal to relative uncertainty of laboratory measuring (210)Po activity at second spontaneous deposition date. The relative uncertainty of in-situ (210)Po activity decreases with in-situ activity ratio of (210)Po to (210)Pb and increases with elapsed time between sampling date and separation date, relative uncertainty of laboratory measuring (210)Po activity at first spontaneous deposition date and relative uncertainty of in-situ (210)Pb activity. It was more important to improve precision of (210)Po at first spontaneous deposition date than that of (210)Po at second spontaneous deposition date. To obtain a desirable relative uncertainty of in-situ (210)Po activity, the maximum allowing elapsed time for (210)Po, which was important for sampling strategy making and quality assurance, was calculated by in-situ activity ratio of (210)Po to (210)Pb and precision of analytical method for (210)Po. The methodology of decay/ingrowth uncertainty correction could also be applied for other radionuclide pairs ((234)Th/(238)U, (90)Y/(90)Sr, (210)Bi/(210)Pb), sample matrixes (aerosols), and disciplines.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007856 Lead Radioisotopes Unstable isotopes of lead that decay or disintegrate emitting radiation. Pb atoms with atomic weights 194-203, 205, and 209-214 are radioactive lead isotopes. Radioisotopes, Lead
D008962 Models, Theoretical Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of systems, processes, or phenomena. They include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment. Experimental Model,Experimental Models,Mathematical Model,Model, Experimental,Models (Theoretical),Models, Experimental,Models, Theoretic,Theoretical Study,Mathematical Models,Model (Theoretical),Model, Mathematical,Model, Theoretical,Models, Mathematical,Studies, Theoretical,Study, Theoretical,Theoretical Model,Theoretical Models,Theoretical Studies
D011059 Polonium A radioactive element that is a member of the chalcogen family. It has the atomic symbol Po, atomic number 84, and the atomic weight of the isotope with the longest half-life (209Po) is 208.98. It decays by alpha-emission.
D011834 Radiation Monitoring The observation, either continuously or at intervals, of the levels of radiation in a given area, generally for the purpose of assuring that they have not exceeded prescribed amounts or, in case of radiation already present in the area, assuring that the levels have returned to those meeting acceptable safety standards. Monitoring, Radiation
D011851 Radioactivity The spontaneous transformation of a nuclide into one or more different nuclides, accompanied by either the emission of particles from the nucleus, nuclear capture or ejection of orbital electrons, or fission. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed) Nuclear Decay,Radioactive Disintegration,Decay, Nuclear,Disintegration, Radioactive,Disintegrations, Radioactive,Radioactive Disintegrations,Radioactivities
D012623 Seawater The salinated water of OCEANS AND SEAS that provides habitat for marine organisms. Sea Water,Sea Waters,Seawaters,Water, Sea,Waters, Sea
D035501 Uncertainty The condition in which reasonable knowledge regarding risks, benefits, or the future is not available.

Related Publications

Wuhui Lin, and Hao Ma, and Liqi Chen, and Zhi Zeng, and Jianhua He, and Shi Zeng
January 2015, Journal of environmental science and health. Part A, Toxic/hazardous substances & environmental engineering,
Wuhui Lin, and Hao Ma, and Liqi Chen, and Zhi Zeng, and Jianhua He, and Shi Zeng
November 2010, The Science of the total environment,
Wuhui Lin, and Hao Ma, and Liqi Chen, and Zhi Zeng, and Jianhua He, and Shi Zeng
May 2011, Journal of environmental radioactivity,
Wuhui Lin, and Hao Ma, and Liqi Chen, and Zhi Zeng, and Jianhua He, and Shi Zeng
June 1982, Journal of radiation research,
Wuhui Lin, and Hao Ma, and Liqi Chen, and Zhi Zeng, and Jianhua He, and Shi Zeng
December 1994, Talanta,
Wuhui Lin, and Hao Ma, and Liqi Chen, and Zhi Zeng, and Jianhua He, and Shi Zeng
January 2005, Journal of environmental radioactivity,
Wuhui Lin, and Hao Ma, and Liqi Chen, and Zhi Zeng, and Jianhua He, and Shi Zeng
October 1966, Strahlentherapie,
Wuhui Lin, and Hao Ma, and Liqi Chen, and Zhi Zeng, and Jianhua He, and Shi Zeng
August 2016, Journal of environmental science and health. Part A, Toxic/hazardous substances & environmental engineering,
Wuhui Lin, and Hao Ma, and Liqi Chen, and Zhi Zeng, and Jianhua He, and Shi Zeng
August 2016, Journal of environmental radioactivity,
Wuhui Lin, and Hao Ma, and Liqi Chen, and Zhi Zeng, and Jianhua He, and Shi Zeng
January 2005, Journal of environmental radioactivity,
Copied contents to your clipboard!