IAEA offers training and support to laboratories monitoring groundwater

Diagnosing the age of modern groundwater (up to 60 years old) using tritium is important in mapping aquifer reserves and their vulnerability to surface pollution, but only half of 78 international laboratories carrying out such work are currently meeting the required analytical testing criteria.

By measuring the levels of tritium found in water, scientists can determine the age of the water and the source of the water through comparison with locations having the same levels of the radiotracer.

Through laboratory proficiency testing, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) assists laboratories in verifying their performance and ensuring that instruments are properly calibrated so that groundwater can be tested in accordance with global standards.

• Learn more about the IAEA training and support here.