Independent Environmental Monitoring Program: Nordion and BWXT Medical
| Site name | Nordion and BWXT Medical |
|---|---|
| Licensees | Nordion (Canada) Inc. and BWXT Medical Ltd. |
| Facility names | Nordion (Canada) Inc. and BWXT Medical Ltd. |
| Facility location | Ottawa, Ontario |
| Land acknowledgement | The CNSC acknowledges that the Nordion (Canada) Inc. (a Sotera Health company) and BWXT Medical facilities are located within the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeg peoples. |
| Facility description |
At this facility, Nordion processes unsealed radioisotopes for health and life sciences
applications, and manufactures sealed radiation sources for industrial applications.
BWXT Medical is a separate facility at this location that produces medical isotopes that are used in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. |
| Environmental protection requirements | In accordance with regulatory requirements under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act, all licensees must maintain a comprehensive environmental protection program to monitor and control nuclear and hazardous substances released from the facilities they own and operate. As part of every licensee’s environmental protection program, concentrations of contaminants in the environment must be determined and the potential exposure routes to the public must be assessed and mitigated. |
In 2018, BWXT Technologies, Inc. acquired the Nordion medical isotope business, changing its name to BWXT Medical in 2021. BWXT Medical has a comprehensive environmental monitoring program that includes monitoring air emissions, monitoring wastewater discharged to the sanitary sewer, and conducting soil monitoring, all of which is separate from Nordion’s comprehensive environmental monitoring program. Owing to the close proximity of these 2 licensees, the 2023 IEMP included sampling around both facilities. Our IEMP results from sampling around the Nordion facility in 2016 and 2018 and from sampling around the Nordion and BWXT Medical facilities in 2023 are consistent with the environmental monitoring results submitted by both Nordion and BWXT Medical, supporting our assessment that their environmental protection programs are effective. The IEMP results add to the body of evidence that people and the environment in the vicinity of the Nordion and BWXT Medical facilities are protected and that there are no anticipated health impacts from the operation of the facilities on the site.
On this page
- Interactive map
- Data table (Download CSV – 19.4 KB)
- Results: (2023) (2018 and 2016)
- Background
- Indigenous Nations and communities’ participation
- Focus on health
- Conclusions
- Related links
Legend
Nordion and BWXT Medical
1 The < symbol indicates that a result is below the provided laboratory analytical detection limit.
2 N/A – not available.
3 For radiological parameters (expressed as Bq/L, Bq/kg or Bq/m3) where no federal or provincial guidelines exist, our screening levels were established based on conservative assumptions using CSA standard N288.1-20, Guidelines for Modelling Radionuclide Environmental Transport, Fate, and Exposure Associated with the Normal Operation of Nuclear Facilities. The screening level for a particular radionuclide in a particular medium (e.g., water, air, food) represents the activity concentration that would result in a dose of 0.1 mSv/year (millisieverts per year), a dose at which no impacts on human health are expected. For more information, please refer to the IEMP technical information sheet.
4 For water samples, the results for non-radiological parameters are compared to Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life. Where no CCME guidelines exist, the Health Canada Drinking Water Quality Guidelines are used.
2023 results
The 2023 IEMP sampling plan for the Nordion and BWXT Medical facilities focused on radioactive substances. A site-specific sampling plan was developed based on the licensees’ approved environmental monitoring programs and our regulatory experience with the site. We endeavour to incorporate traditional Indigenous land use, values and knowledge by engaging with Indigenous Nations and communities on the sampling plan. More information on this engagement is provided in the “Indigenous Nations and communities’ participation” section.
In June 2023, we collected air, water, soil and sediment samples in publicly accessible areas outside the facility perimeter.
The levels of radioactivity measured in air, water, soil and sediment were below available guidelines and our own screening levels. Our screening levels are based on conservative assumptions about the exposure that would result in a dose of 0.1 mSv per year (one-tenth of the regulatory public dose limit of 1 mSv per year). Measurements conducted by the IEMP to date have consistently found levels of radioactivity in the environment to be low and well within the range of natural background radiation levels. As a result, no effects on human health are expected.
Background
CNSC staff collecting water samples near Nordion in 2018.
Under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA), licensees of nuclear facilities are required to implement an environmental monitoring program to demonstrate that the public, Indigenous communities and the environment are protected from emissions related to the facility's nuclear activities. The results of these monitoring programs are submitted to the CNSC to ensure compliance with applicable guidelines and limits, as set out in regulations that oversee Canada's nuclear industry. The CNSC has implemented its IEMP to verify that the public, Indigenous communities and the environment around licensed nuclear facilities are protected. It is separate from, but complementary to, the CNSC's ongoing compliance verification program. The IEMP involves taking samples from public areas around the facilities, and measuring and analyzing the amount of radioactive and hazardous substances in those samples. CNSC staff collect the samples and send them to the CNSC's state-of-the-art laboratory for testing and analysis. The area outside of the Nordion facility site perimeter was sampled in 2016 and 2018.
2016 and 2018 results
The 2016 and 2018 IEMP sampling plans for Nordion focused on radioactive substances. A site-specific sampling plan was developed based on the licensee's approved environmental monitoring program and the CNSC's regulatory experience with the site. In June 2016 and May 2018, CNSC staff collected air, soil, sediment and water samples in publicly accessible areas outside the Nordion facility perimeter. The levels of radioactivity measured in air, soil, sediment and water were below available guidelines.
Indigenous Nations and communities’ participation
We have made it a priority to ensure that IEMP sampling reflects Indigenous traditional knowledge, land use and values where possible. In addition to routine IEMP sampling activities, we seek input from local Indigenous Nations and communities on our IEMP sampling plans.
In advance of the 2023 IEMP sampling campaign at Nordion and BWXT Medical, notification emails were sent to Indigenous Nations and communities near the facility to notify them of the sampling campaign and to seek input on the sampling plan.
We will continue to engage with interested Indigenous Nations and communities to ensure that IEMP sampling incorporates Indigenous knowledge in future sampling.
Focus on health
We review the results of existing health reports and data, international publications, and at times conduct our own health studies to provide further independent verification that the health of people in and around the Nordion and BWXT Medical facilities in Ottawa is protected.
Ottawa Public Health, Public Health Ontario, and Cancer Care Ontario monitor the health of populations, including those living in Ottawa near the Nordion and BWXT Medical facilities. Disease rates in Ottawa are compared to other similar populations (or larger reference populations, such as Ontario) to detect any potential health outcomes that may be of concern.
Most recent population and community health studies indicate that the most common cancers in Ottawa are breast, prostate, lung and colorectal. This is similar to the rest of Ontario. From 2014 to 2018, for all cancers and sexes combined, people living in Ottawa had cancer incidence rates (i.e., the number of new cancers occurring in a specified population during a year) similar to those living in Ontario, overall. From 2014 to 2018, Ottawa had significantly higher incidence rates of breast (females) and bladder cancer and significantly lower incidence rates of thyroid, kidney, stomach (males) and larynx (males) cancer compared to Ontario. From 2014 to 2018, for all cancers and sexes combined, Ottawa had significantly lower cancer mortality rates than the Ontario average. Mortality from breast (females) cancer was significantly higher in Ottawa than Ontario, and mortality from kidney cancer was lower.
Certain lifestyles and behaviours can increase the risk of cancer, such as smoking, alcohol consumption and obesity. Alcohol consumption in Ottawa is significantly higher than the Ontario average and is a major modifiable risk factor for many cancers, including breast cancer.
While exposure to ionizing radiation is an established risk factor for both breast and bladder cancer, based on levels of contaminants in the environment, exposures to people living in the area, and relevant local health data, we have not observed and do not expect any adverse health outcomes relating to the presence of Nordion and BWXT Medical. For further information, access the CNSC Health Studies page.
If you would like more general health information and data for your community, please visit the following websites:
Conclusions
Our IEMP results from 2016, 2018 and 2023 are consistent with the results submitted by Nordion and BWXT Medical, supporting our assessment that the licensees’ environmental protection programs are effective. The results add to the body of evidence that people and the environment in the vicinity of the Nordion and BWXT Medical facilities are protected and that there are no anticipated health impacts from the operation of the facilities on the site.
Related links
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