In-Situ Seawater Gamma Spectrometry with LaBr3 Detector at a Nuclear Power Plant Outlet

In a nuclear emergency, the application of in situ spectrometers for monitoring environmental radioactivity is significantly important, as information on the type and activity of radionuclides released from the accident can be obtained quickly. However, in emergency environmental radiological monitoring, a balance between energy resolution and detecting efficiency must be considered in selecting an appropriate detector. In this study, in situ gamma spectrometry was conducted with the LaBr3 detector to determine the radioactivity of seawater at the discharging outlet of a coastal nuclear power plant in southeast China. The results show that the LaBr3 scintillator has excellent energy resolution and detection efficiency, making it a promising detector for emergency monitoring.