Before revision: Typical radionuclides of interest + Commonly measured long lived cosmogenic isotopes Wlement Mass Half-life (years) Typical source Helium 3 - stable - Air, water, and biota samples for bioassays Carbon 14 5,730 Radiocarbon dating of organic matter, water Iron 55 2.7 Produced in iron and steel casings, vessels, or supports for nuclear weapons and reactors Strontium 90 28.8 Common fission product Technetium 99 214,000 Common fission product Iodine 129 15.7 million Groundwater tracer Cesium 137 30.2 Nuclear weapons and nuclear reactors (accidents) Promethium 147 2.62 Naturally occurring fission product Radon 226 1,600 Rain and groundwater, atmosphere Uranium 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 238 Varies Terrestrial element Plutonium 238, 239, 240, 241, 242 Varies Nuclear weapons and reactors Americium 241 433 Result of neutron interactions with uranium and plutonium Quality assurance As this is an analytical chemistry technique quality control is an important factor to maintain.
After revision: Typical radionuclides of interest + Commonly measured long lived cosmogenic isotopes Element Mass Half-life (years) Typical source Helium 3 - stable - Air, water, and biota samples for bioassays Carbon 14 5,730 Radiocarbon dating of organic matter, water Iron 55 2.7 Produced in iron and steel casings, vessels, or supports for nuclear weapons and reactors Strontium 90 28.8 Common fission product Technetium 99 214,000 Common fission product Iodine 129 15.7 million Groundwater tracer Cesium 137 30.2 Nuclear weapons and nuclear reactors (accidents) Promethium 147 2.62 Naturally occurring fission product Radon 226 1,600 Rain and groundwater, atmosphere Uranium 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 238 Varies Terrestrial element Plutonium 238, 239, 240, 241, 242 Varies Nuclear weapons and reactors Americium 241 433 Result of neutron interactions with uranium and plutonium Quality assurance As this is an analytical chemistry technique quality control is an important factor to maintain.