Canadian officials found radiation levels in these northern Ontario homes ‘well above’ the safe limit. Their response: ‘¯\_(ツ)_/¯’
[ https://www.thestar.com/news/investigat ... b65b6.html ]
The number of homes in Elliot Lake affected by buried radioactive waste could top 100 — twice as many as previously thought.
By Declan Keogh and Masih Khalatbari, Investigative Journalism Bureau
Toronto Star, Thursday, March 21, 2024. [ https://tinyurl.com/3c2tez6e ]
In January 2021, a senior official with Canada’s nuclear regulator asked a colleague to do a rough, “back-of-the-envelope” calculation on the amount of potentially deadly radiation that residents in Elliot Lake were exposed to in their homes. [ https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/the ... 44db5.html ]
The government had just received a complaint that long-forgotten radioactive mine waste was buried underneath some homes in the northern Ontario city. Ron Stenson, senior project officer at the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), wanted to “confirm our assumption that 468 Bq/m3 is not an urgent health concern.”
He did not get the answer he wanted. A senior official with the commission’s radiation protection division replied that those levels of radon are “well above” the public radiation dose limit set by federal authorities.
Stenson’s response came 90 minutes later: “¯\_(ツ)_/¯.” . . . . .
MORE . . . .
Canadian officials found radiation levels in these northern
4 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Canadian officials found radiation levels in these northern
by Oscar » Sat Mar 23, 2024 10:50 am
- Oscar
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9112
- Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 3:23 pm
Re: Canadian officials found radiation levels in these north
by Oscar » Sat Mar 23, 2024 11:04 am
They thought they’d found an affordable place to live. They were never told about the radioactive mining waste
[ https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/the ... 44db5.html ]
Recent testing at four houses in Elliot Lake reveal elevated levels of gamma radiation and concentrations of radon gas far exceeding safety guidelines. There could be up to 60 homes in the community currently on top of mine waste, documents allege.
Toronto Star photo illustration/Submitted image - By Marco Chown Oved Climate Change Reporter, Declan Keogh Investigative Journalism Bureau - June 15, 2023
Lisa Speck's house outside of Elliot Lake was allegedly built on top of radioactive mining tailings from a nearby uranium mine. The mining company paid to install fans and venting in the 1970s, which have now stopped working, sending radiation levels soaring to dangerous levels.
EXCERPT: "A cluster of homes in Elliot Lake sits atop a deadly secret.
Radioactive tailings from long-closed mines in northern Ontario –– which produced uranium for atomic bombs –– were allegedly used as infill when the subdivision was established decades ago, emitting gamma rays and poisonous gasses into and around people’s homes. . . . . "
More . . . .
[ https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/the ... 44db5.html ]
Recent testing at four houses in Elliot Lake reveal elevated levels of gamma radiation and concentrations of radon gas far exceeding safety guidelines. There could be up to 60 homes in the community currently on top of mine waste, documents allege.
Toronto Star photo illustration/Submitted image - By Marco Chown Oved Climate Change Reporter, Declan Keogh Investigative Journalism Bureau - June 15, 2023
Lisa Speck's house outside of Elliot Lake was allegedly built on top of radioactive mining tailings from a nearby uranium mine. The mining company paid to install fans and venting in the 1970s, which have now stopped working, sending radiation levels soaring to dangerous levels.
EXCERPT: "A cluster of homes in Elliot Lake sits atop a deadly secret.
Radioactive tailings from long-closed mines in northern Ontario –– which produced uranium for atomic bombs –– were allegedly used as infill when the subdivision was established decades ago, emitting gamma rays and poisonous gasses into and around people’s homes. . . . . "
More . . . .
- Oscar
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9112
- Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 3:23 pm
Re: Canadian officials found radiation levels in these north
by Oscar » Sat Mar 23, 2024 11:11 am
Letter to the Editor: Radiation in Elliot Lake homes (Toronto Star, March 21 2024)
Dr. Gordon Edwards Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility March 21, 2024
The government will not take responsibility for radioactive contamination of homes in Elliot Lake, built using radioactive waste from uranium mines. Officials claim that “waste rock” is not “radioactive waste”, alhtough the federal Government has always classified waste rock as a part of the radioactive waste inventory (over 380 million tonnes) from uranium mining.
Excess radiation in Elliot Lake homes, from radon gas and gamma radiation, was subjected to a provincial inquiry in 1977-78. The Elliot Lake miners’union asked me to testify as an expert witness.
Using the government’s own published radon mortality figures, I showed that the “acceptable limit” for exposures in homes could cause a 31 percent increase in the male lung cancer rate for those living in those homes. That means an additional 17 lung cancer deaths per 1000 males exposed, over and above the 54 lung cancer deaths already reported in Ontario per 1000 males. These figures represent lifetime exposures.
Today’s so-called “safe” level referred to in the Star article is the same “acceptable” level of radon used back then.
Based on my testimony, the Panel recommended that radon “standards” be re-examined. It never happened. Instead, the regulator commissioned an independent study by an epidemiologist from McGill, Duncan Thomas. His study confirmed my estimate of radon-induced deaths. The regulator rejected the results of its own expert study.
Excess exposures in Elliot Lake should have been corrected 45 years ago, but was not. Canada’s regulator still refuses to address the problem.
The $1.6 billion radioactive cleanup now underway in Port Hope, involving hundreds of homes contaminated with radon-generating waste, was known to the regulator as early as 1965. But the Port Hope problem was ignored by officialdom and specifically by Canada’s nuclear regulator until the scandal became too much to bear when, in 1975, St Mary’s elementary school was evacuated because the radon levels in the cafeteria were greater than those allowed in Elliot Lake uranium mines.
Gordon Edwards, PhD, President,
Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility.
Dr. Gordon Edwards Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility March 21, 2024
The government will not take responsibility for radioactive contamination of homes in Elliot Lake, built using radioactive waste from uranium mines. Officials claim that “waste rock” is not “radioactive waste”, alhtough the federal Government has always classified waste rock as a part of the radioactive waste inventory (over 380 million tonnes) from uranium mining.
Excess radiation in Elliot Lake homes, from radon gas and gamma radiation, was subjected to a provincial inquiry in 1977-78. The Elliot Lake miners’union asked me to testify as an expert witness.
Using the government’s own published radon mortality figures, I showed that the “acceptable limit” for exposures in homes could cause a 31 percent increase in the male lung cancer rate for those living in those homes. That means an additional 17 lung cancer deaths per 1000 males exposed, over and above the 54 lung cancer deaths already reported in Ontario per 1000 males. These figures represent lifetime exposures.
Today’s so-called “safe” level referred to in the Star article is the same “acceptable” level of radon used back then.
Based on my testimony, the Panel recommended that radon “standards” be re-examined. It never happened. Instead, the regulator commissioned an independent study by an epidemiologist from McGill, Duncan Thomas. His study confirmed my estimate of radon-induced deaths. The regulator rejected the results of its own expert study.
Excess exposures in Elliot Lake should have been corrected 45 years ago, but was not. Canada’s regulator still refuses to address the problem.
The $1.6 billion radioactive cleanup now underway in Port Hope, involving hundreds of homes contaminated with radon-generating waste, was known to the regulator as early as 1965. But the Port Hope problem was ignored by officialdom and specifically by Canada’s nuclear regulator until the scandal became too much to bear when, in 1975, St Mary’s elementary school was evacuated because the radon levels in the cafeteria were greater than those allowed in Elliot Lake uranium mines.
Gordon Edwards, PhD, President,
Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility.
- Oscar
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9112
- Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 3:23 pm
Re: Canadian officials found radiation levels in these north
by Oscar » Sun Apr 07, 2024 8:29 pm
100+ Homes in Elliot Lake are badly contaminated with radon-generating radioactive waste used in construction.
Inbox
COMMENTS BY DR. EDWARDS . . . . . 'Gordon Edwards' via Coalition for a Clean Green Saskatchewan
April 7, 2024
Background:
The article below reveals the government's unwillingness to take any responsibility for radioactive contamination of homes in Elliot Lake that were built using radioactive waste rocks and radioactive sand (tailings) from the Elliot Lake uranium mines. Shamelessly, officials are now claiming that “waste rock” from mining is not classified as “radioactive waste”, when in fact the Government of Canada has always classified waste rock [ https://www.cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca/eng/waste/u ... illswaste/ ] as a significant portion of the radioactive waste inventory (over 380 million tonnes) from uranium mining in Canada.
[ https://natural-resources.canada.ca/sit ... cess_e.pdf ]
The question of high radiation levels in Elliot Lake homes was the subject of a provincial inquiry in 1977-78. The radiation doses were primarily radon exposures as well as gamma radiation exposures. At that time I was asked by Homer Seguin of the United Steelworkers (the union representing uranium miners) to testify under oath as an expert witness.
The so-called “safe” level of radon referred to in the article below is exactly the same as the “acceptable” level of radon that was used by the government back in 1977-78 in the case of Elliot Lake homes. Back then, using only the government’s own published mortality figures from radon, I showed [ https://www.ccnr.org/lung_cancers.html ] by simple arithmetic that the CNSC's “acceptable limit” for radon exposures in homes would be expected to cause a 30 percent increase in the male lung cancer rate for those living in those homes at the “acceptable" level. That would mean an additional 17 lung cancer deaths per 1000 males exposed, over and above the 54 lung cancer deaths already reported in Ontario per 1000 males. To be clear, these figures represent lifetime exposures.
Based on my testimony, the Environmental Panel recommended that the radon “standards” be re-examined. Such a re-examination never took place. Instead, the regulator commissioned an independent study [ https://www.ccnr.org/thomas_report.html ] by an epidemiologist from McGill, Duncan Thomas. His study fully confirmed my estimate of radon-induced deaths. The regulator produced a flimsy rebuttal rejecting the results of its own commissioned study.
So the excess radon exposures in Elliot Lake homes should have been flagged and corrected 45 years ago, but was not. And if Canada’s regulator has anything to say about it, the problem will still not be addressed as a blatant case of mismanagement on the part of the regulator.
Indeed, the one-and-a-half billion dollar radioactive cleanup now underway in Port Hope, involving hundreds of homes contaminated with radon-generating radioactive waste, was also known to the regulator as early as 1965. But the Port Hope radiation problem was similarly ignored by officialdom and specifically by Canada’s nuclear regulator until the scandal became too much to bear when, in 1975, St Mary’s elementary school was evacuated because the radon levels in the cafeteria were greater than those allowed in Elliot Lake uranium mines.
Gordon Edwards, President
Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility
http://www.ccnr.org
= = = = =
Canadian officials found radiation levels in these northern Ontario homes ‘well above’ the safe limit. Their response: ‘¯\_(ツ)_/¯’
The number of homes in Elliot Lake affected by buried radioactive waste could top 100 — twice as many as previously thought.
By Declan Keogh and Masih Khalatbari, Investigative Journalism Bureau - Toronto Star, Thursday, March 21, 2024.
[ https://tinyurl.com/3c2tez6e ]
[ https://www.thestar.com/news/investigat ... b65b6.html ]
Inbox
COMMENTS BY DR. EDWARDS . . . . . 'Gordon Edwards' via Coalition for a Clean Green Saskatchewan
April 7, 2024
Background:
The article below reveals the government's unwillingness to take any responsibility for radioactive contamination of homes in Elliot Lake that were built using radioactive waste rocks and radioactive sand (tailings) from the Elliot Lake uranium mines. Shamelessly, officials are now claiming that “waste rock” from mining is not classified as “radioactive waste”, when in fact the Government of Canada has always classified waste rock [ https://www.cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca/eng/waste/u ... illswaste/ ] as a significant portion of the radioactive waste inventory (over 380 million tonnes) from uranium mining in Canada.
[ https://natural-resources.canada.ca/sit ... cess_e.pdf ]
The question of high radiation levels in Elliot Lake homes was the subject of a provincial inquiry in 1977-78. The radiation doses were primarily radon exposures as well as gamma radiation exposures. At that time I was asked by Homer Seguin of the United Steelworkers (the union representing uranium miners) to testify under oath as an expert witness.
The so-called “safe” level of radon referred to in the article below is exactly the same as the “acceptable” level of radon that was used by the government back in 1977-78 in the case of Elliot Lake homes. Back then, using only the government’s own published mortality figures from radon, I showed [ https://www.ccnr.org/lung_cancers.html ] by simple arithmetic that the CNSC's “acceptable limit” for radon exposures in homes would be expected to cause a 30 percent increase in the male lung cancer rate for those living in those homes at the “acceptable" level. That would mean an additional 17 lung cancer deaths per 1000 males exposed, over and above the 54 lung cancer deaths already reported in Ontario per 1000 males. To be clear, these figures represent lifetime exposures.
Based on my testimony, the Environmental Panel recommended that the radon “standards” be re-examined. Such a re-examination never took place. Instead, the regulator commissioned an independent study [ https://www.ccnr.org/thomas_report.html ] by an epidemiologist from McGill, Duncan Thomas. His study fully confirmed my estimate of radon-induced deaths. The regulator produced a flimsy rebuttal rejecting the results of its own commissioned study.
So the excess radon exposures in Elliot Lake homes should have been flagged and corrected 45 years ago, but was not. And if Canada’s regulator has anything to say about it, the problem will still not be addressed as a blatant case of mismanagement on the part of the regulator.
Indeed, the one-and-a-half billion dollar radioactive cleanup now underway in Port Hope, involving hundreds of homes contaminated with radon-generating radioactive waste, was also known to the regulator as early as 1965. But the Port Hope radiation problem was similarly ignored by officialdom and specifically by Canada’s nuclear regulator until the scandal became too much to bear when, in 1975, St Mary’s elementary school was evacuated because the radon levels in the cafeteria were greater than those allowed in Elliot Lake uranium mines.
Gordon Edwards, President
Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility
http://www.ccnr.org
= = = = =
Canadian officials found radiation levels in these northern Ontario homes ‘well above’ the safe limit. Their response: ‘¯\_(ツ)_/¯’
The number of homes in Elliot Lake affected by buried radioactive waste could top 100 — twice as many as previously thought.
By Declan Keogh and Masih Khalatbari, Investigative Journalism Bureau - Toronto Star, Thursday, March 21, 2024.
[ https://tinyurl.com/3c2tez6e ]
[ https://www.thestar.com/news/investigat ... b65b6.html ]
- Oscar
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9112
- Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 3:23 pm
4 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Return to Uranium/Nuclear/Waste
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 10 guests