Particle Analysis and Safeguards - To See a World in a Grain of Sand

Environmental Sampling for Safeguards has been implemented by the International Atomic Energy Agency as part of a Strengthened Safeguards System. The collection of environmental samples combined with ultra-sensitive analytical methods can give increased assurance of the absence of clandestine or undeclared nuclear activities at the inspected site. The group of techniques which have been generally termed “particle analysis” represents a very powerful source of information about past and present nuclear activities. These techniques can be divided into physical measurements (such as size and morphology) by scanning electron microscopy, chemical measurements (semi-quantitative elemental analysis) by electron-excited X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and isotopic measurements by thermal ionization or secondary ion mass spectrometry. This paper will discuss the analytical characteristics and results of the particle analysis methods used by the IAEA in its Clean Laboratory for Safeguards in Seibersdorf, Austria and in its Network of Analytical Laboratories in the Member States.