Fast and Sensitive Radiochemical Method for Sr-90 Determination in Food and Feed by Chromatographic Extraction and Liquid Scintillation Counting

Strontium-90 (Sr-90) contamination in food is a major public health issue. Several radiochemical methods are available for the determination of Sr-90. However, the application of these procedures is not focused on solid foods, but only on liquid (milk, water, etc.) and environmental matrices, and they were not fully validated. The aims of this work were to establish and validate a fast, sensitive method for the determination of Sr-90 in solid food matrices such as meat and dairy products, seafood, vegetables, and animal feed, using a specific resin for extraction and ultra-low-level liquid scintillation counting for detection. The method was optimised and validated according to relevant legislation. Good analytical performance was obtained, including high specificity and linearity together with low measurement uncertainty (13.1%). The minimal detectable activity was 11 mBq kg(-1), and the mean repeatability (CV%) and recovery values were 10.7% and 100.1%, respectively. These parameters assured method applicability for official food safety controls. The method was applied to reference materials and submitted to proficiency test round to confirm its reliability for Sr-90 quantification in solid foodstuffs and feed. The newly established method may be broadly applicable to complex matrices.

Automated summary

A fast and sensitive method for the determination of Sr-90 in solid food matrices has been established and validated in this study. The method showed good analytical performance and is applicable for official food safety controls. Additionally, it is also suitable for complex matrices.