# Direct method for Ra-226 analysis in water samples using ICP-QQQ-MS

## TL;DR

A new direct method for detecting Ra-226 in water using ICP-QQQ-MS is presented, offering high sensitivity and simplicity for routine analysis.

## Contribution

This is the first mass spectrometry method for direct Ra-226 determination validated in an independent proficiency test.

## Key findings

- The method achieves a detection limit of 0.1 fg g-1, tenfold lower than EU requirements.
- The method avoids interference removal procedures and reaction gases, simplifying the analysis process.
- The method's accuracy was confirmed using an IAEA proficiency test water sample.

## Abstract

The paper describes a method of determination of Ra-226 in natural water using ICP-QQQ-MS, Agilent 8900, that enables an efficient direct determination of Ra-226 with high sensitivity without using any reaction gas and separation procedures for interference removal. The matrix effect, together with the instability of the sensitivity are controlled by spiking the sample with Ra-226. The method is simple and fast with a detection limit around of 0.1 fg g-1 (3.6 mBq kg-1), which is tenfold lower than required by the EU Directive for water consumption (40 mBq kg-1) and five times better than results obtained from alternative direct method for routine analysis described in the literature. The method can easily be implemented for routine analysis Ra-226 which was demonstrated by direct determination of Ra-226 in IAEA proficiency test water sample. This is the first time that the accuracy (trueness and precision) of a mass spectrometry method for the direct determination of Ra-226 has been tested and confirmed in an independent proficiency test.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-18775-4.