An environmental radionuclide baseline study near three Canadian naval ports

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1999 · Health Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-199907000-00008· OSTI ID:6376910

Waller, E J; Cole, D ^[1]

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1. SAIC Canada, Ottawa, Ontario (Canada)

This paper summarizes an environmental radionuclide baseline study undertaken for the Department of National Defence in Canada. The purpose of the project was to establish levels of radionuclides present in the environment around areas where nuclear propelled vessels may be berthed. Specifically, this report describes environmental baselines near Halifax (Nova Scotia), Esquimalt (British Columbia), and Nanoose Bay (British Columbia). Valued ecosystem component samples were taken from dairy farms, beef producers, market gardens, vegetables, tree fruits and berries within the study areas, as well as marine bivalves (mussels and clams), salmon, seaweed, and food from native fisheries. Numerous naturally occurring isotopes were detected and quantified. The only non-naturally occurring isotope positively identified was in the form of trace quantities of [sup 131]I, measured in the Halifax study zone (attributed to local hospital cancer therapy). [sup 137]Cs is the only other anthropogenic radionuclide detected. Its origin may be the combination of fallout from the Chernobyl accident and fallout from atmospheric nuclear weapon tests. The results indicate that nuclear-powered vessels have not resulted in activity levels that would contribute a significant radiation exposure to the public, the biota, and the environment within the three study zones.

• OSTI ID: 6376910
• Journal Information: Health Physics, Vol. 77:1; ISSN 0017-9078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BASELINE ECOLOGY
CANADA
CESIUM 137
CONTAMINATION
FOOD CHAINS
IODINE 131
POLLUTION SOURCES
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CESIUM ISOTOPES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ECOLOGY
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
IODINE ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
540230* - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540330 - Environment
Aquatic- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)