A simple method with imaging plates for examination of soil contaminated with radioactive caesium

A simple and convenient system with imaging plates (IPs) was well constructed for the radioactivity examination of soil contaminated with radioactive caesium. A set of two IP strips was vacuum-sealed with thin polyethylene film to prevent the IP strips from direct contacting soil and from being moisturized. In the examination of radioactive soil, a stainless steel pipe including this IP strip monitor was put into the ground and then it was kept in a lead container after being pulled out of the ground for the reduction of the surrounding gamma-ray background. In addition, a sensitive reader was well made for the measurement of the photostimulated luminescence through the scanning of a laser beam on the IP strip. It was confirmed from experiments on actual radioactive-caesium-contaminated soil that the IP strip monitor with the reader effectively detected beta-rays from radioactive caesium and could be satisfactorily used for the examination of radioactive soil.