# Wadsworth Center's Radiochemical Testing for Food Defense and Capability Development (Discipline C: Radiochemistry, Analytical Track 1: Food Defense and Maintenance)

> **NIH FDA U19** · WADSWORTH CENTER · 2020 · $227,711

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY Discipline C - Analytical Track 1 
The principal goal of this project is to enhance and maintain the radiological protection of food nationwide and 
within New York State, including activities related to surveillance, emergency response, and method 
development. The proposed activities will be performed within the Nuclear Chemistry Laboratory section of 
Laboratory of Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry at Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health. 
Wadsworth Center, a comprehensive state public health laboratory, performs research and mandated testing 
in biomedical and environmental science. Its Division of Environmental Health Sciences is responsible for the 
analysis of environmental and food samples for toxic chemicals and radioactivity, as well as for laboratory 
activities in response to chemical and radiological threat-related incidents. Wadsworth Center develops and 
validates laboratory methods for measuring chemical and nuclear threat agents and accredits clinical and 
environmental laboratories throughout New York State. 
Our participation in the proposed 2020-2025 Laboratory Flexible Funding Model will focus on analysis of food 
samples for radioactive contamination, including alpha, beta, and gamma screening and quantification. We will 
work with the US FDA, Winchester Engineering and Analytical Center, and FERN program participants to 
strengthen surveillance testing activities, and to develop new and improved methods of beta radioactivity 
detection in foods that will support and expand sample testing and increase sample throughput capacity. 
Specific goals to Track 1, Food Defense and Maintenance include surveillance of 120 food samples per year 
for alpha/beta/gamma radioactivity, collected by regulatory collectors in New York State, in addition to samples 
related to the FERN exercises and assignments. Additional aims include maintenance of qualified and trained 
personnel for food radiochemistry and emergency, adherence to Quality Management System, as well as 
acquiring and calibration of equipment appropriate for radiological food defense. Furthermore, we will 
participate in/organize radiological exercises and Performance Tests for FERN, participate in FERN 
assignments, as well as attend Face-to-Face meetings and other conferences. Wadsworth Center’s Nuclear 
Chemistry Laboratory proposes development activities, such as method development and surge capacity 
development. The proposed methods involve Sr-89 and Sr-90 isotopic determination in food using liquid 
scintillation counting, determination of gross beta radioactivity in food using gas proportional counting as well 
as survey screening, in addition to quantitative approaches to beta radioactivity in food. We will also seek 
certification under ISO 17025 specifically for food analysis, to augment the laboratory certifications we already 
have.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10173140
- **Project number:** 1U19FD007089-01
- **Recipient organization:** WADSWORTH CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Patrick J. Parsons
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** FDA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $227,711
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10173140

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10173140, Wadsworth Center's Radiochemical Testing for Food Defense and Capability Development (Discipline C: Radiochemistry, Analytical Track 1: Food Defense and Maintenance) (1U19FD007089-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10173140. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*