抄録
Strontium-90/Y-90 are major radionuclides observed in the water samples tested recently at the site of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station of Tokyo Electric Power Company. A simple method of evaluating Sr-90 concentration in these water samples by measuring β rays from Y-90 with a GM-detector setup was developed. By applying the precipitation method, Sr-90 and Y-90 were separated and quantitatively collected with a filter. β rays from Y-90 in the filter were measured two times at appropriate intervals by inserting a polyethylene plate of 2 mm thickness as a β-ray absorber. The contribution of γ rays from Cs-134 and Cs-137 to the Y-90 count rates was quantitatively evaluated using a 10-mm-thick acrylic resin plate. From the parent-daughter relationship between Sr-90 and Y-90, the Sr-90 concentration was evaluated using the conversion coefficient of Y-90 count rate (cps) to Sr-90 concentration (Bq/cm3). It was verified that Sr-90 concentration of below 0.01 Bq/cm3 in water samples can be correctly measured by this simple method.
