Establishing a Radioanalytical Measurements Laboratory (RAM LAB) for Food Monitoring at Colorado State University

Project Summary/Abstract ? OverallThe overarching aim of this project is to support food defense efforts in the State of Colorado byestablishing a radioanalytical measurements laboratory capable of monitoring human andanimal food products for radioactive contaminants. Currently none of the analytical laboratoriesmaintained by the State of Colorado have radioanalytical measurement capabilities that couldbe utilized to perform measurements in support of food defense in either routine or emergencysituations. The Health Physics program at Colorado State University has a long-standingtradition of carrying out radioanalytical measurements and radiochemical separations fortraining and research. The initial efforts will focus on providing a laboratory capable ofmonitoring food samples for gamma-emitting radionuclides in support of food defense (Track 1).Simultaneously the capability to measure alpha-emitting radionuclides (Track 2) will bedeveloped by drawing on the facilities available at CSU and the expertise and the background ofthe faculty in the Health Physics program.