The examinations of radioactive isotopes in the environment and their role for living things of our planet, in the recent years, has attracted growing attention.
The excess of radioactivity contamination in our planet arises from many natural sources and human activities such as: - natural abundance of the earth crust of the thorium (232Th, emivite 14 x 106 y), neptunium (237Np, emivite 2,3 x 106 y), uranium (238U, emivite 4,5 x 109 y, and 235U, emivite 0,71 x 109 y). These radio nuclides represent the progenitors of the four secular chains from which disintegrations are continuously formed others radioactive and non radioactive elements. All of them stop when is formed either lead (isotopes 208, 206 and 207) or bismuth (isotope 209)
- volcanic emission of radioactive rare gas such as: radon, emanium
- nuclear detonations that happened in the ‘60s
- radioactive waste coming from human activity, such as: nuclear power production and radioactive substance production for clinical tests
- execution of clinical tests concerning the use of radioactive elements or X-ray
- nuclear power plant failures It is possible to identify two sources of contamination: the direct one which is linked to the contact with the radioactive elements as they were formed or deriving from mine extraction and the indirect one linked to their fallout. The second one is the most important and dangerous radioactive hazard source. Therefore human health is threatened both from the surrounding environment and the food chain.
There are many drawbacks and dangers connected with contamination of the environment by radioactivity.
Radioactive particles are biologically toxic because, as they are so penetrating, they can have severe effects on the cells of humans and animals. The main danger from radioactivity is the damage it does to the cells in your body due to ionisation.
Chelab is active since many years in the field of radioactivity and is able to support its customer with very accurate and reliable measurement of radioactivity, thanks to its equipments and expertise. Chelab laboratories are equipped with 2 different Canberra Spectrometers, according to the sample tested:
1. a gamma spectrometer with germanium detector – HPGe (High Purity Ge)
2. a scintillation spectrometer with sodium iodide (NaI) crystal activated with thallium (NaJ (Tl)) Test results are available within 7 business days.
PROCEDURE 1. Choose the number of samples: remember to send 1 kg of your product. Chelab performs the analyses on the following matrices: cereals and derivates, feeds, dried vegetables, fruit juices, jam, honey, baked products 2. Click the order button and read carefully the following instruction 3. Fill in the apposite space the information regarding your samples (e.g. ingredients, density, aspect,...) 4. Fulfil the registration form or login with your username and password if you are already a customer 5. Pay on line with any credit card. Chelab sends you the invoice 6. Send your samples to Chelab 7. Chelab publishes your test results in your password proctected area | 
