90Sr/90Y determination in milk by Cherenkov radiation after microwave digestion

In a case of a nuclear emergency, rapid radiostrontium analysis in milk is essential, since milk ingestion poses a considerable risk for radiostrontium implantation in the human body especially in infants. The main idea of this study is to investigate a simple, fast and low-cost method for 90Sr determination in milk samples, through microwave digestion followed by Cherenkov radiation detection on a Liquid Scintillation Counter Quantulus 1220™. Obtained results set method’s limit on a screening test for emergency situations only (uncontrolled nuclear waste discharges/nuclear power plant accidents etc.), adequate for a quick reliable estimate of 90Sr content.