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Measuring 210 Pb by accelerator mass spectrometry: a study of isobaric interferences of 204,205,208 Pb and 210 Pb
Author(s) -
Sookdeo A.,
Cornett R. J.,
Zhao X.L.,
Charles C. R. J.,
Kieser W. E.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/rcm.7501
Subject(s) - chemistry , accelerator mass spectrometry , van de graaff generator , isobaric process , mass spectrometry , isotope , analytical chemistry (journal) , radiochemistry , nuclear physics , beam (structure) , environmental chemistry , physics , chromatography , optics , thermodynamics
Rationale The measurement of 210 Pb provides an assessment of the risk an individual faces of developing lung cancer as a result of their exposure to radon and radon decay products. Existing radiometric techniques are not sensitive enough to detect 210 Pb in many exposures. This report describes the further development of a method of measuring 210 Pb using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS). Methods 204,205,208, 210 Pb measurements were performed by AMS. Samples were prepared from stock solutions of 204 Pb, 205 Pb, 208 Pb and 210 Pb and measured by making PbF 3 − ions at the IsoTrace AMS facility using a SIMS‐type Cs + sputter source. Potential interferences in Pb 3 + isotope measurement and the overall efficiency of Pb beam production were determined experimentally. Results 204 Pb and 205 Pb suffer from molecular and atomic isobaric interferences that cannot be removed without sacrificing the efficiency of 210 Pb measurements whereas 208 Pb suffers from no interferences. The abundance sensitivity of 210 Pb/ 208 Pb was 1.3 × 10 −12 . Keeping the 210 Pb/ 208 Pb spike below this level resulted in a detection limit of 4.4 mBq of 210 Pb using the IsoTrace AMS facility. Conclusions This study identified key interferences in the measurement of PbF 3 − → Pb 3 + ions and demonstrated a new AMS method to measure 210 Pb. This new AMS technique is about five times more sensitive than gamma and beta spectroscopy measurements of 210 Pb and the measurement time is much shorter. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.