Discipline C - Radiochemistry - Capability/Capacity Development - Analytical Track - Capacity

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Abstract PROJECT EIGHT: Texas State Chemist Radiochemistry Capability/Capacity Development Plans for the OTSC-AAS radiochemistry food defense project include: 1) build additional capability and expand the national capacity in radiochemical analysis through purchased of a low background alpha/beta counting system and a liquid scintillation counter and 2) expand the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 scope to include the expanded testing capability. In 2019, OTSC conducted extensive preparations and allocated necessary budgets for the design and development of a new radiological lab to participate in the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN). The agency applied and received a radioactive material (RAM) permit as part of the Texas A&M University (TAMU) Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) radiological license in September 2019. The agency currently has a Canberra Series 5 XLB gas proportional alpha/beta counter and two Canberra HPGe gamma spectrophotometers, two Ortec HPGe gamma spectrophotometers, and a Princeton gamma tech spectrophotometer. The agency developed and implemented operating and safety procedures to meet all regulatory requirements imposed by TAMU EHS, through their licenses with the Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Control and U Nuclear Regulatory Commission. As an outcome of this project, Texas animal food defense for radiological hazards will be strengthened and scope of ISO accreditation expanded resulting in capacity and capability increased and provide surge capacity for food regulatory agencies in the event of a radiological disaster. OTSC will also be better equipped participate in FDA requested annual surveillance activities to support and maintain readiness, participate in national security event exercises, maintain preparedness to rapidly respond to the suspected or confirmed intentional contamination event involving human or animal food and participate in testing associated with suspected or credible threats to the food and animal food supply where a radiological agent is suspected at the request of FDA.