DIN ISO 18510-1:2026-03

In the context of environmental radioactivity measurement, bioindicators can be used to demonstrate the presence of natural and artificial radionuclides that are difficult to detect in the surrounding environment (for example, air or water). A bioindicator is an indicator in the form of a plant, fungal, or animal species or a group of species whose presence (or state) provides information about certain environmental features (such as physicochemical, microclimatic, biological, or functional characteristics) or about the impact of certain anthropogenic activities. Some bioindicators have the ability to exhibit higher radionuclide contents than those usually observed in the surrounding environment. Others have a lower capacity for accumulation, but their radionuclide content fluctuates in proportion to that which is present in the environment. This document describes the general principles pertaining to the sampling strategy, to the collection and conditioning of samples, to their transport to the laboratory and to the pre-treatment operations to be carried out prior to analysis. These principles are not directly applicable to accident or post-accident situations.