Prevention and removal of elevated radiocarbon contamination in the LLNL/CAMS natural radiocarbon sample preparation laboratory

The presence of elevated C-14 contamination in a laboratory preparing samples for natural radiocarbon analysis is detrimental to the laboratory workspace as well as the research being conducted. Elevated C-14 contamination occurs via many different pathways, but procedures can be adopted to prevent and remove this type of contamination. In this paper we present our current practices for preventing contamination, evaluating and monitoring potential workspaces and cleaning contaminated workspaces and laboratory equipment. Published by Elsevier B.V.