Services

Laboratory analyses

The aim of the laboratory of the Climate and Radiation Department of the Environmental Board is to carry out analyses of samples collected within the framework of the national radiation monitoring programme and to provide laboratory analysis services. 

The laboratory is accredited as a test laboratory, meeting the requirements of ISO 17025:2017 in the field of gamma-spectrometric analysis (Certificate No L175). For quality assurance and control purposes, the laboratory regularly participates in international comparative analyses.

The following is mainly analysed according to orders and contracts:

• Building materials (Ra-226, K-40, Th-232, Cs-137)
• Water (total alpha and beta activity, Cs-137, H-3, Ra-226, Ra-228, Sr-90, Rn-222)
• Food products (Cs-137, Cs-134, Sr-90)
• Plant materials (Cs-137, Cs-134, Sr-90, Ra-226)
• Soil (Cs-137, Ra-226, K-40, Th-232).

The gamma-spectrometric analysis method also determines other radionuclides from different samples, more detailed information on this can be obtained from the laboratory.

To order an analysis, you need to:

1. Prepare a letter of order to the Climate and Radiation Department of the Environmental Board, which includes:

• Customer data: customer's name, registry code or personal identification code, contact address, contact person and phone, and an e-mail address for sending the measuring results and invoice (add the corresponding information to receive the measuring results by post)
• The name of the sample/material given for analysis (if the result should be in a foreign language, then also the foreign name of the sample/material to be analysed)
• What kind of analysis is to be ordered
• In some cases also the date and time of sampling (necessary, for example, when determining the content of Rn-222 in drinking water)
• If the customer finds it necessary, then the data of the sampling point.

Sample letter of order: 

Laboratoorse analüüsi tellimus | 39.5 KB | doc (Order for laboratory analysis)

2. Call the laboratory or send an email

• +372 6644910; +372 6644911; +372 6644924 
• eia.jakobson@keskkonnaamet.ee; larissa.palmin@keskkonnaamet.ee; jana.mihkelson@keskkonnaamet.ee

to agree the following:

• The amount of sample required for analysis (depends on which analysis is ordered)
• What kind of package/ container to use for bringing the sample (for example, in order to determine the content of Rn-222 in water samples, the laboratory will give a special bottle, a sampling guide and the necessary means in advance)
• In case of building materials, the degree of fineness of the samples (the size of a piece of stone material should not exceed 5 mm)
• The deadline for analysis (different analyses have different deadlines).

3. Send the sample together with the letter of order to the laboratory:

• Kopli 76, 10416 Tallinn
• Open Mon-Thu 8.30 - 16.30, Fri 8.30 - 14:00

The results of the analysis and invoice are sent by e-mail, unless otherwise agreed. The results are issued after the invoice has been paid.

• Measuring personal dosimeters

Monitoring of individual doses of exposed workers, i.e. measuring personal dosimeters by using the thermoluminescence method at the Environmental Board has been accredited by the Estonian Accreditation Centre according to the requirements of EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005 since 2005 (certificate No. 175).

Monitoring of the individual doses of exposed workers by means of the thermoluminescence method is carried out according to the contract that is concluded between the Environmental Board and the holder of radiation practice licence for an indefinite period.

The Radiation Monitoring Bureau of the Climate and Radiation Department of the Environmental Board provides the service of measuring personal dosimeters by using the thermoluminescence method - whole body and ring dosimeters are used. Thermoluminescence dosimetry is based on the property of inorganic substances with some impurities to luminescence after irradiation and heating with ionizing radiation. The intensity of luminescence correlates with the dose of ionizing radiation absorbed by these substances. The equivalent of a individual dose Hp(s) is calculated based on the intensity of luminescence.

 Hp(s) is a dose equivalent in the soft tissue of the human body under a predetermined point, at a depth of d. Pursuant to Regulation No. 54 of the Minister of the Environment of 18.11.2016, the depth d=10 mm is used for high penetrating radiation and d=0.07 mm for low penetrating radiation. The effective dose component from external radiation can be equal to the equivalent of a individual dose Hp(10).

The Radiation Monitoring Bureau uses thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLD) with LiF detectors and the RADOS TLD system for measuring the dosimeters of individual doses:

• Measurable area: beta and gamma radiation
• Measurable size: individual dose equivalent Hp(10), Hp(0.07)
• Measurement unit: mSv (millisievert)
• Measuring range: 0.01 mSv-10 Sv
• Energy scale: 30 keV-2 MeV
• The lowest determination limit: 0.01 mSv.

• Concluding aa agreement for checking personal dosimeters

1. In order to conclude the agreement, the holder of the radiation practice licence submits a written application to the Radiation Monitoring Bureau of the Climate and Radiation Department of the Environmental Board. The application is sent to the general e-mail address of the Radiation Department or by post.

2. The Radiation Monitoring Bureau of the Climate and Radiation Department forwards the agreement to be signed as specified in the application. The agreement is signed by a person authorized for this by the company. Sample agreement. “Requirements for wearing personal dosimeters” is an integral part of the agreement.

3. Personal dosimeters are given to the holder of a radiation practice licence (through a representative or by post) in accordance with the list of exposed workers and frequency specified in the application for concluding the agreement. The obligations of the parties in issuing, using and returning personal dosimeters are set out in the instructions. 

4. Payment for the service is made in accordance with the contract. The price of measuring a personal dosimeter is € 15.25 / pc.

Contractual fines apply to lost or damaged personal dosimeters:

• If the dosimeter is lost (whole body or ring dosimeter) - € 63.91 / 1 pc
• Missing or damaged dosimeter’s tablet - € 9.59 / 1 pc
• Unusable dosimeter - € 35.15 / 1 pc
• Unsatisfying technical condition of the dosimeter lids - € 7.67 / 1 pc.

5. The Environmental Board, as the controller of the State Dose Register of Exposed Workers on the basis of the Radiation Act, enters the data of exposed workers, submitted by the holder of the licence in the application for concluding the contract, and the measuring results of individual monitoring to the National Dose Register of Exposed Workers.

• Registering changes in the list of exposed workers

The holder of a radiation practice licence is required to inform the Radiation Monitoring Bureau of the Climate and Radiation Department of the Environmental Board of any changes in the list of exposed workers and amendments to the terms and conditions of the contract (e.g. changes in contact persons or data).

Changes in the list of exposed workers are registered in writing upon submission of a corresponding application by the holder of a radiation practice licence, which is sent to the general email address of the Radiation Department or by post or to a specialist of personal dosimetry by email or post.

• Notification of losing personal dosimeter

In the event of losing a personal dosimeter, the holder of the radiation practice licence immediately notifies the Radiation Monitoring Bureau of the Climate and Radiation Department of the Environmental Board in free format or by using the notification format. The holder of the radiation practice licence must assess the amount of the dose received by an exposed worker during the monitoring period and submit the assessed dose for entering in the National Dose Register of Exposed Workers.

The amount of the assessed dose can be:

• The average dose of the exposed worker in the current or previous year if working conditions and workload have not changed
• The amount of dose received by an exposed worker with the same workload and working in the same conditions during the same monitoring period.

People interested in measuring radon levels at their homes or workplaces can order this service from the Climate and Radiation Department of the Environmental Board.

It is possible to order long-term measuring with detectors (measuring period at least 2 months) or a short-term measuring with radon monitor (measuring period up to 7 days).

The long-term measuring method is accredited by the Estonian Accreditation Centre (certificate No. L175).

The Environmental Board does not provide service for measuring the radon level in the soil.

For the price list, see "Price list" (see points 4 and 4.1 - long-term measuring and point 3 - short-term measuring)

When ordering the measuring service:

1. Find out more in the Radon section (LINK) to decide exactly what kind of measuring you need.

If necessary, consult the Chief Specialist of the Climate and Radiation Department of the Environmental Board, who can advise you on the choice of measuring method (e-mail: alar.polt@keskkonnaamet.ee; phone: 664 4912 or 5303 5703).

2. To place an order, fill in the corresponding ordering format and send it by e-mail at alar.polt@keskkonnaamet.ee or by regular post to the Climate and Radiation Department of the Environmental Board (Kopli 76, 10416 Tallinn).

• Oder form for ling-term measuring: docx

• Order form for short-term measuring: docx

3. Upon receipt of the order, you will be contacted and the measuring time will be agreed.

If you order a short-term method (up to 7 days), you will be contacted as soon as possible.

In case of long-term measuring (at least 2 months) during the time period specified in the table below (if you have provided us with your email address, we will send a confirmation of the receipt of the order).

4. The measuring results and invoice are sent by e-mail, unless otherwise agreed.

The invoice is issued after conducting the measuring process. The measuring results are issued within 3 weeks (in the case of a short-term method within one week) as of the date of return of a radon monitor or detectors to the Climate and Radiation Department and the payment of the invoice. In case of long-term measuring, the date of return of the detectors to the Climate and Radiation Department is deemed to be the date of return specified in the table.

• Long-term measuring is carried out during the time periods pointed out in the following table:

Providing the measuring results

Until 19.10.21

20.10.21 – 25.10.21

No later than on 14.01.22

25.10.21 – 27.12.21

28.12.21 – 03.01.22

No later than on 18.03.22

27.12.21 – 14.02.22

15.02.22 – 21.02.22

No later than on 13.05.22

*Provided that the amount paid for the service has been received at least three working days before the specified deadline. The Climate and Radiation Department of the Environmental Board reserves the right to change the dates set out in the table and informs the customers of the changes.

It is also possible to keep the detectors measuring for two or three measuring cycles, i.e. approximately for 4 or 6 months. The longer the period, the closer the measuring result is to the annual average value of radon concentration. Please mark this on the order form if you would like to have a longer measuring period! The measuring price does not depend on the length of the measuring period.

• If you wish to have a four-month measuring period, the order must be placed for the 1st measuring cycle, i.e. by 19 October, and the detectors must be returned by the end of the 2nd measuring cycle, i.e. by 18 March, or place an order for the 2nd measuring cycle, i.e. by 27 December, and return the detectors by 13 May.
• If you wish for a six-month measuring period, the order must be placed for the 1st measuring cycle, i.e. by 19 October, and the detectors must be returned by the end of the 3rd measuring cycle, i.e. by 13 May.

Contact person: Alar Polt, Chief Specialist of the Radiation Monitoring Bureau of the Environmental Board

•  +372 6644912 ja +372 53035703 
• alar.polt@keskkonnaamet.ee

If you are not the holder of radiation practice licence, you can order measuring of radiation level by filling in the order form.

Please sign the completed form digitally in advance and send it to the Chief Specialist of Radiation Monitoring of the Radiation Monitoring Bureau. 

Contact details:

Uko Rand

Phone 664 4927 and 5860 2302

Email: uko.rand@keskkonnaamet.ee

In case of both the holder of the radiation practice licence and a non-holder, an employee of the Climate and Radiation Department will contact you after placing the order to agree with you on the necessary measuring details.

The holder of radiation practice licence or an applicant for it can order the shielding calculation by sending a digitally signed order form by email.

Order form for shielding calculation

 Price formation for shielding calculation

Contact

•  Marina Lacis Senior Specialist +372 6644907
• info@keskkonnaamet.ee
• After placing the order, an employee of the Radiation Protection Bureau will contact you within 5 working days.

If necessary, the number of measuring points is agreed with the customer before the measuring process, taking into account the purpose of the measuring and the particular features of the measuring object. The measuring results and the invoice are sent electronically and/or by post, unless otherwise agreed. The results are issued after the invoice has been paid.

RATES OF THE PAID SERVICES

The rates of paid services arise from Regulation No. 27 of the Minister of the Environment “List and rates of paid services related to the main activities of the Environmental Board”.