Work

14C Contamination Testing in Natural Abundance Laboratories: A New Preparation Method Using Wet Chemical Oxidation and Some Experiences

Year: 2016

Type: article

Abstract: Substances enriched with radiocarbon can easily contaminate samples and laboratories used for natural abundance measurements. We have developed a new method using wet chemical oxidation for swabbing laboratories and equipment to test for 14C contamination. Here, we report the findings of 18 months’ work and more than 800 tests covering studies at multiple locations. Evidence of past and current use of enriched 14C was found at all but one location and a program of testing and communication was used to mitigate its effects. Remediation was attempted with mixed success and depended on the complexity and level of the contamination. We describe four cases from different situations.

Source: Radiocarbon

DOI: 10.1017/rdc.2016.78

Authors: Cameron P McIntyre, Franziska Lechleitner, Susan Q Lang, Negar Haghiour, Simon Fahrni, Lukas Wacker, Hans-Arno Synal

Institutions: ETH Zurich, Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, Durham University, University of South Carolina

Language: English

Topic: Archaeology and ancient environmental studies

Subfield: Paleontology

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

OpenAlex ID: W2535415494

FWCI: 1.111

Cites: 7

Cited by: 10

Related to: 10