Limits of bioassay

["Clement, Christopher" <clementc@aecl.ca>]

Radsafers:

I'm not that familiar with the limits of bioassay methods.  Can someone
point me in the direction of a reference for the minimum detectable
activities for ingestion or inhalation of uranium or thorium series
radionuclides?  In other words, for example, how many Bq of U238 with
all its progeny do I have to inhale (say all at once) before it can be
measured by standard bioassay techniques?

------------------------------------------------------------
Christopher H. Clement
Scientific Specialist / Radiation Protection Program Manager
Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Office
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
clementc@aecl.ca