Radioactivity Testing in Food, Water & Environmental Samples
Multi-matrix scope: this service covers food, water, and environmental samples — available across all five NABL-accredited Auriga labs. Water utilities, EHS managers, and environmental consultants can also access this service via our Water Testing and Environmental Testing service hubs.
Comprehensive radioactivity testing services ensuring the safety and purity of water, food, and environmental samples. Auriga Research operates NABL-accredited laboratories in India equipped to detect alpha, beta, and gamma emitters across the parameter list specified by IS 10500, IS 14194, EPA 9310, BARC technical methods, and WHO Drinking-water Quality guidelines.
Radioactive materials naturally occur in soil, water, air, and consumer products. Excessive exposure — even at low levels over long periods — can cause kidney toxicity, bone disorders, and increased cancer risk. Indian regulators (BIS, FSSAI, AERB) and international markets (EU, Japan, Gulf) therefore require documented radiological assurance for drinking water, packaged food, and exported food categories. We help water utilities, food manufacturers, exporters, and herbal product brands meet these requirements with fast turnaround and defensible reports.
Our radioactivity capabilities cover gross alpha and gross beta counting for water samples, high-resolution gamma spectrometry for food matrices (rice, tea, spices, herbal products, dairy, processed foods), and uranium-specific analysis for groundwater compliance under IS 10500:2012. Reports are issued under our NABL ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation and are accepted by Indian regulators and major export buyers.
Why Radioactivity Testing Matters
- Health protection — long-term ingestion of low-level radioactivity is linked to cancer, kidney damage, and bone disorders
- Regulatory compliance — BIS IS 10500, FSSAI rules, AERB guidance, and international export markets
- Groundwater safety — uranium exceeds the safe limit in 13–15% of Indian groundwater samples nationwide (Source: Central Ground Water Board / BARC groundwater quality surveys)
- Export readiness — EU, Japan, Korea, and Gulf importers routinely request radiological certificates
- Consumer trust — third-party verified safety for premium and herbal/ayurvedic categories
- Risk mitigation — early identification of contamination in supply chains and treated water systems
Our Radioactivity Testing Procedures
We provide three core radiation measurement procedures, applied across water, food, and environmental matrices.
Alpha Counting
Quantification of total alpha-emitting radionuclides — uranium, radium, polonium, and thorium isotopes — in water samples by gross alpha activity measurement.
Sample types
Drinking water, packaged water, treated water, raw water, industrial water, potable water
Standards / methods
IS 14194 (Part 2), IS 10500:2012, EPA 9310
Beta Counting
Quantification of total beta-emitting radionuclides — strontium-90, caesium-137, tritium, and other beta emitters — by gross beta activity measurement.
Sample types
Drinking water, packaged water, treated water, raw water, industrial water, potable water
Standards / methods
IS 14194 (Part 1), IS 10500:2012, EPA 9310
Gamma Counting
High-resolution gamma spectrometry for individual radionuclide identification and quantification — caesium-134, caesium-137, iodine-131, potassium-40, and naturally occurring gamma emitters.
Sample types
Rice, tomato sauce, meats, processed food, tea powder, herbal and ayurvedic products
Standards / methods
BARC/2008/E/023, gamma spectrometry per ISO/IEC 17025
Water Radioactivity Testing
Our water radioactivity panel measures total alpha and beta emitters in line with Indian and international standards, with uranium-specific quantification by ICP-MS where required.
- Gross alpha activity per IS 14194 (Part 2) and EPA 9310
- Gross beta activity per IS 14194 (Part 1) and EPA 9310
- Uranium quantification by ICP-MS — IS 10500:2012 limit of 30 µg/L
- Radium-226 and radium-228 isotope-specific measurement on request
- Drinking, packaged, treated, raw, and industrial water matrices
- Reports formatted for BIS, FSSAI, and municipal compliance audits
Food Radioactivity Testing
Food radioactivity is measured by high-resolution gamma spectrometry, identifying and quantifying individual radionuclides at low concentrations. This service is widely used by exporters of rice, tea, spices, and herbal products to support certificates required by overseas buyers.
- Gamma spectrometry for caesium-134, caesium-137, iodine-131, potassium-40
- Strontium-90 analysis (radiochemical separation followed by beta counting)
- Detection of fallout-origin and naturally-occurring radionuclides
- Sample categories: rice, grains, tea, spices, herbal/ayurvedic products, dairy, meats, processed and ready-to-eat foods
- Export-ready reports for EU, Japan, Korea, and Gulf market submissions
- Combined panels with heavy metals testing on request
Reference Standards & Methods
| Standard / Method | Application |
|---|---|
| IS 14194 (Part 1) | Gross beta activity in water — Indian Standard reference method |
| IS 14194 (Part 2) | Gross alpha activity in water — Indian Standard reference method |
| IS 10500:2012 | Drinking water specification — alpha, beta, and uranium limits |
| BARC/2008/E/023 | Caesium-137, caesium-134, strontium-90 analysis (BARC technical method) |
| EPA 9310 | Gross alpha and beta activity in surface and groundwater (US EPA method) |
| WHO Guidelines | WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality — radiological aspects |
Business Benefits
Compliance & Safety
Meet BIS, FSSAI, AERB, and international radiological safety standards. Reduce regulatory and legal risk for water utilities, food manufacturers, and importers.
Consumer Trust
Demonstrate commitment to health and safety with third-party verified radioactivity reports — accepted for retail buyers, export shipments, and public-health audits.
Quality Assurance
Identify and mitigate radiological risks early in the supply chain. Verify treatment processes for groundwater, packaged water, and imported food categories.
Who Needs This Testing
- Water utilities and packaged drinking water plants needing BIS IS 10500:2012 radiological compliance (gross alpha ≤0.1 Bq/L, gross beta ≤1.0 Bq/L, uranium ≤30 µg/L).
- Food manufacturers and FSSAI licensees verifying radiological safety for rice, tea, spices, herbal products, dairy, and processed foods.
- Agri-export brands shipping rice, tea, spices, and herbal/ayurvedic products to EU, Japan, Korea, and Gulf markets requiring radiological certificates.
- Environmental consultants and EHS managers running site characterisation, EIA studies, and contaminated land assessments under MoEFCC and SPCB requirements.
- Municipal corporations, RWAs, and groundwater monitoring agencies in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh where uranium exceeds the BIS limit naturally.
- Herbal, ayurvedic, and nutraceutical exporters needing combined heavy-metals and radiological certificates for premium-market submissions.
- Imported food testing — customs and importer-side QA verifying radiological safety of food consignments from regions with historical fallout exposure.
- Industrial facilities, power plants, and waste-handling sites requiring routine environmental radioactivity surveillance under AERB and CPCB guidance.
Why Auriga for Radioactivity Testing
NABL-accredited IS 14194 + IS 10500 scope
Full BIS accreditation for gross alpha and gross beta activity per IS 14194 Parts 1 and 2 and IS 10500:2012 drinking water radiological limits — accepted by BIS, FSSAI, and municipal compliance auditors.
BARC reference methods in-house
BARC/2008/E/023 caesium-137, caesium-134, and strontium-90 analysis on validated platforms — the BARC reference framework that Indian regulators and AERB look for.
ICP-MS for uranium quantification
Uranium quantification by ICP-MS at sub-µg/L LOQs against the BIS IS 10500:2012 30 µg/L limit — critical for groundwater sources in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh.
Gamma spectrometry for food matrices
High-resolution gamma spectrometry for rice, tea, spices, herbal/ayurvedic products, dairy, and processed foods — isotope-specific quantification of Cs-137, Cs-134, I-131, and K-40.
Accepted by BIS, FSSAI, and export buyers
CoAs accepted for BIS packaged-water certification, FSSAI food category compliance, AERB surveillance, EIC export documentation, and EU/Japan/GCC destination requirements.
Arbro Group analytical heritage
Established analytical heritage through the Arbro Group (Arbro Lab since 1990, Auriga Research since 2007), with NABL ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation — the audit trail BIS, FSSAI, AERB, and international buyers look for in a radiological testing partner.
How It Works
Get a Quote
Share your product type and the parameters you need tested. Your dedicated SPOC will confirm the testing scope, the applicable method, and the exact sample quantity required for your specific panel before you dispatch anything.
Send Your Sample
Dispatch your sample with a completed Test Request Form to the nearest Auriga lab. Each sample is individually bar coded and registered in YLIMS, Auriga's in-house Laboratory Information Management System, upon receipt. Testing begins within 24 hours of sample registration.
Testing and QA Review
Your sample is tested against the confirmed validated method by Auriga's scientific team. Every result passes through a formal internal QA review and sign-off before the report is generated.
Receive Your NABL Report
Your NABL-accredited test report is delivered digitally within the committed turnaround time. Reports carry Auriga's NABL accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and are accepted by FSSAI, APEDA, EIC, and major international buyers. You can track your sample status in real time through YLIMS at any point in the process.
Turnaround Time
| Service | Standard TAT | Express |
|---|---|---|
| Gross alpha & beta in water (IS 14194) | 5–7 business days | Available |
| Uranium in water by ICP-MS | 5–7 business days | Available |
| Gamma spectrometry on food | 7–10 business days | On request |
| Strontium-90 analysis | 10–14 business days | On request |
| Combined radioactivity + heavy metals panel | 7–10 business days | On request |