Independent Environmental Monitoring Program: TRIUMF Accelerators Inc.
| Site name | TRIUMF Accelerators Inc. |
| Licensee | TRIUMF Accelerators Inc. (TRIUMF) |
| Facility name | TRIUMF Accelerators Inc. |
| Facility location | Vancouver, BC |
| Land Acknowledgement | The CNSC acknowledges that the TRIUMF is located within the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. |
| Facility description | TRIUMF operates multiple accelerator facilities for research in nuclear and particle physics, as well as accelerator-based science. |
| 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. |
Our IEMP results from 2016, 2019 and 2022 are consistent with the results submitted by TRIUMF, supporting our assessment that the licensee’s environmental protection program is effective. The results add to the body of evidence that people and the environment in the vicinity of the TRIUMF are protected and that there are no anticipated health impacts from the operation of the facilities on the site.
On this page
- Interactive map and IEMP results
- Data table (Download CSV – 8.4 KB)
- Background
- Results: (2022) (2016 and 2019)
- Indigenous Nations and Communities’ Participation
- Focus on health
- Conclusions
- Related Links
Legend
TRIUMF Accelerators Inc.
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 N288.1-14, Guidelines for Calculating Derived Release Limits for Radioactive Material in Airborne and Liquid Effluents for 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.
Background
Under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA), licensees of nuclear facilities are required to implement environmental monitoring programs to demonstrate that the public and the environment are protected from emissions related to the facilities’ 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 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 radiological (nuclear) and hazardous substances in those samples. CNSC staff collect the samples and send them to the CNSC’s independent laboratory for testing and analysis. The area outside of the TRIUMF facility perimeter was sampled in 2016 and 2019.
2022 Results
The 2022 IEMP sampling plan for the TRIUMF focused on radiological substances. A site-specific sampling plan was developed based on the licensee’s approved environmental monitoring program and our regulatory experience with the site. We endeavor 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 September 2022, we collected air, soil, and vegetation samples in publicly accessible areas outside the facility perimeter.
The levels of radioactivity measured in air, soil and vegetation were below 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.
2016 and 2019 results
IEMP sampling at the TRIUMF facility for 2016 and 2019 focused on radiological contaminants. A site-specific sampling plan was developed based on TRIUMF’s environmental monitoring program and the CNSC’s regulatory experience with the site. In August 2016 and in September 2019, samples were collected in areas outside the TRIUMF facility perimeter and included samples of air, vegetation and soil. The levels of radioactivity measured in the samples were below available guidelines. No health or environmental impacts are expected at these levels.
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 2022 IEMP sampling campaign at TRIUMF, 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 did not receive any comments from Indigenous Nations and communities on the 2022 IEMP 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 conduct health studies to provide further independent verification that the health of people in and around the TRIUMF facility are protected.
Community Health Service Areas (CHSAs) in British Columbia (B.C.) are administrative bounds nested within Local Health Areas (LHAs) as defined by the B.C. Ministry of Health. TRIUMF resides in the University of British Columbia CHSA is 15 km² in size and is on the Westside LHA of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. Major establishments include Pacific Spirit Regional Park, University of British Columbia, and UBC Hospital.
Overall, most of Westside LHA’s population, social and health indicators are positive and show, high life expectancy and low rates of illness and disease.
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According to the BC Centre for Disease Control (2021), 87.3% of the adult (18+) population in UBC CHSA self-reported having good general health; an individual's own overall health perception is an indicator of general health, which not only encompasses the absence of disease or injury but also physical, mental, and social well-being
- The top three leading causes of death for Westside LHA from were cancer, cardiovascular disease, and cerebrovascular diseases. This is consistent with the rest of Canada, where cancer and cardiovascular disease are the top two leading causes of death and cerebrovascular disease is ranked forth (following accidents) in 2019 (Statistics Canada, November 2020). It is highly unlikely TRIUMF is associated with these outcomes. In fact, Westside LHA’s mortality rates were lower compared to BC (BC Vital Statistics Agency (VISTA), October 2012).
- Similarly, the incidence (new cases) and prevalence (existing cases) of disease in UBC CHSA was generally lower compared to both the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and BC. (2016-2020 data from the BC Cancer Registry, 2019/2020 BC Chronic Disease Registry)
Based on exposure and health data, we have not observed and do not expect any adverse health outcomes relating to the presence of the TRIUMF Access our library of health studies and third-party research.
If you would like more general health information and data for your community, please visit the following websites:
https://www/vch.ca/en/public-health
Community health profiles | Vancouver Coastal Health (vch.ca)
B.C. CHSA Health Profile Version 2.0 © 2023 PHSA
Conclusions
Our IEMP results from 2016, 2019 and 2022 are consistent with the results submitted by TRIUMF, supporting our assessment that the licensee’s environmental protection program is effective. The results add to the body of evidence that people and the environment in the vicinity of the TRIUMF 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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