Fast determination of americium and curium isotopes in urine samples and internal dose evaluation in emergency situations

In nuclear or radiological emergency involving the spread of radioactive material in the environment, it is critical to quickly monitor a large number of people. As a result, there is a need for rapid methods to determine radionuclides in bioassay samples. A simple approach to adapt measurement techniques for a mass monitoring of internal contamination based on the concept of “minimum detectable dose” has been developed and applied to americium and curium isotopes. In this way it is possible to reveal all the contamination exceeding a pre-established reference dose level, allowing a reliable dose evaluation as well as the identification of the time useful for sample collection.