Experience acquired on environmental sample combustion for organically bound tritium measurement.

In order to determine organically bound tritium (OBT) concentrations, environmental samples are generally first freeze-dried. This first step is to remove tritiated water. Then, the dry residue is burnt in a special furnace with oxygen.

Sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, another tool for plutonium isotopes and plutonium isotope ratios determination in environmental matrices.

The transfer of radio nuclides into the different compartments of the environment are widely studied and leads to the elaboration of transfer models in order to evaluate potential impact onto the environment and humans. Accurate experimental data are needed to validate these models for all types of matrices (air, water, sediments, soils, biota and food..