Application of NaI(Tl) detector for measurement of natural radionuclides and 137Cs in environmental samples: new approach by decomposition of measured spectrum

An alternative method for determination of activities of natural, technogenic and fallout radionuclides in environmental samples was proposed. The method used a widely available scintillation spectrometer and was based on the decomposition of samples' γ-spectra into spectral components of separate radionuclide groups with the help of standard sources. The method was tested on water, soil and coal samples and could be successfully used in field (expedition) conditions (without liquid nitrogen for the detector cooling).