Independent Environmental Monitoring Program: Blind River Refinery
| Site name | Blind River Refinery (BRR) |
|---|---|
| Licensee | Cameco Corporation (Cameco) |
| Facility name | Blind River Refinery (BRR) |
| Facility location | Blind River, Ontario |
| Land acknoledgement | The CNSC acknowledges that the Blind River Refinery is located within the Robinson-Huron and Robinson-Superior Treaties territory and the traditional territory of the Anishinabek, Métis and Odawa peoples, in particular Mississauga First Nation. |
| Facility description | The facility refines uranium concentrates (yellowcake) from uranium mines around the world, including northern Saskatchewan, to produce uranium trioxide (UO3), an intermediate product of the nuclear fuel cycle. The UO3 is then shipped to Cameco’s Port Hope Conversion Facility for further processing. |
| 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. |
Our IEMP results from 2023, 2020, 2018, 2017, 2014 and 2013 are consistent with the results submitted by Cameco, 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 Blind River Refinery are protected and that there are no anticipated health impacts from the operation of the facility on the site.
- Interactive map and IEMP results
- Data table Download CSV - 24.7 KB)
- Results: (2023) (2020) (2018) (2013, 2014 and 2017)
- Focus on health
- Video: Introduction to the IEMP
- Frequently asked questions
- Related links
Legend
Blind River Refinery
Legend
Results Table
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 Tritiated water (HTO) is a radioactive form of water where the usual hydrogen atoms in water (H2O) are replaced with tritium. Elemental tritium (HT) refers to the radioactive form of hydrogen gas. Organically bound tritium (OBT) is tritium that is bound to an organic molecule, such as a carbohydrate, fat or protein.
5 For water samples, the results for non-radiological parameters are compared to the 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.
6 "-" No data available due to air-sampler malfunctioning.
2023 results
The 2023 IEMP sampling plan for the Blind River Refinery focused on radium-226, uranium, nitrate and pH. A site-specific sampling plan was developed based on the licensee’s approved environmental monitoring program 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 October 2023, we collected water and soil samples in publicly accessible areas outside the facility perimeter. The collection of air samples had to be postponed until 2024 due to poor weather conditions.
The concentrations of uranium and nitrate in water measured in the samples were below the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) guideline levels (15 mg/L for uranium and 13 mg/L for nitrate). The concentrations of uranium in soil at all locations sampled in 2023 were below the applicable CCME soil quality guideline for residential and parkland use (23 mg/kg). For pH in water, the measured levels were within the CCME guideline (pH between 6.5 and 9.0). No health or environmental impacts are expected at these levels.
2020 Results
The 2020 IEMP sampling plan for BRR focused on radium-226, uranium, nitrate and pH. 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 September 2020, CNSC staff collected air, soil and water samples in publicly accessible areas outside the facility perimeter.
The concentrations of uranium and nitrate in water measured in the samples were below the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment’s (CCME) guideline levels (15 mg/L for uranium and 13 mg/L for nitrate). The concentrations of uranium in soil at all locations sampled in 2020 were below the applicable CCME soil quality guideline for residential and parkland use (23 mg/kg). The measured concentrations of uranium in air were below the levels set by Ontario’s Ambient Air Quality Criteria (0.03 µg of uranium per cubic metre of air (µg/m3)). For pH in water, the measured levels were within the CCME guidelines (pH between 6.5 and 9.0). No health or environmental impacts are expected at these levels.
2020 marks the first year that radium-226 was analyzed in water. All of the radium-226 results are below 0.03 Bq/L and Health Canada’s drinking water quality guideline of 0.5 Bq/L.
This year the CNSC laboratory analyzed the soil results using the same methodology as that used to establish the CCME guidelines. As a result, soil concentrations are lower than those in previous years and are more accurately comparable with the CCME guidelines.
With the exception of uranium in soil (which is lower, due to the change in laboratory method), the results for 2020 were similar to those obtained for 2018, 2017, 2014 and 2013.2018 Results
IEMP air sampling on Mississauga First Nations land along the Mississagi River in October 2018
The 2018 IEMP sampling plan for the BRR site focused on uranium, nitrate and pH. The IEMP assessed uranium against its more sensitive and therefore more restrictive chemical toxicity thresholds as a potentially toxic metal (hazardous substance). A site-specific sampling plan was developed based on Cameco's approved environmental monitoring program, CSA Group standards and the CNSC's regulatory experience with the site. In October 2018, samples were collected in publicly accessible areas outside the BRR site perimeter fence and included air, soil and water. View detailed sampling data.
The concentrations of uranium and nitrate in water measured in the samples were below the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment's (CCME) guideline levels (15 mg/L for uranium and 13 mg/L for nitrate). The concentrations of uranium in soil at all locations sampled in 2018 were below the applicable CCME soil quality guideline for residential and parkland use (23 mg/kg). The measured concentrations of uranium in air were below the levels set by Ontario's Ambient Air Quality Criteria (0.03 µg of uranium per cubic meter of air (µg/m3)). With regard to pH levels in water, the measured levels were within the CCME guidelines (pH between 6.5 and 9.0). No health or environmental impacts are expected at these levels.
The 2018 sampling campaign also included sites on Mississauga First Nations (MFN) land. Samples of air, soil and water at several sites were selected based on prior discussions between CNSC staff and MFN. The results for the samples obtained on MFN land were below applicable guidelines. The results were also similar to what was found from the 2013, 2014 and 2017 sampling campaigns as well as the results for the other sampling sites outside the BRR site perimeter for 2018.
The results for the four sampling years are similar and are below all applicable guidelines. Since the IEMP results represent a snapshot in time, the small differences between sample results can be attributed to slight differences in the sampling locations, seasonal variations, facility operations, meteorological conditions, and/or natural variations in background radiation.
2013, 2014 and 2017 results
The 2013, 2014 and 2017 IEMP sampling plans for the BRR site were similar to the 2018 plan and focused on uranium, nitrate and pH. Air, soil and water samples were collected by CNSC staff in publicly accessible areas outside the BRR facility site perimeter for the sampling campaigns. View detailed sampling data.
The 2013, 2014 and 2017 IEMP results confirmed that the public and the environment in the vicinity of the BRR site were protected from the releases from the facility and that there were no health or environmental impacts 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 2023 IEMP sampling campaign at the Blind River Refinery, 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 invited suggestions for species of interest, valued components, and potential sampling locations where traditional practices and activities may take place.
In previous years, CNSC staff had worked with the Mississauga First Nation (MFN) to develop the sampling plans. In 2023, CNSC staff met with MFN to discuss the IEMP and proposed that the 2023 sampling plan remain identical to the plan used previously. Samples were collected at several locations based on previous discussions between CNSC staff and MFN. CNSC staff will continue to work with MFN on future IEMP sampling campaigns at the Blind River Refinery.
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 Blind River Refinery is protected.
People living around the Blind River Refinery are monitored by Algoma Public Health. Most recent population and community health studies indicate that common causes of death among these populations from 2009 to 2012 include cancers, heart disease, lung disease and dementia. This is similar to the rest of Ontario and Canada, where cancers and heart disease are the 2 leading causes of death.
The most common cancers between 2000 and 2009 were breast, lung, prostate and colorectal, accounting for over half of all new cancer cases. This is comparable to cancer incidence statistics for the general Canadian population. Some variance is observed when compared to Ontario averages, such as a higher incidence of lung cancer and a lower incidence of prostate cancer between 2006 and 2009. Mortality from preventable causes, particularly lung cancer, was higher in Algoma than in Ontario between 2000 and 2009, where smoking rates were nearly double those of Ontario. Major health risk factors such as smoking, excess body weight, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and poor diet may account for the occurrence of these diseases and play a contributing role in disease patterns across the province of Ontario.
While there are no specific health studies that look at adverse health effects from the presence of the Blind River Refinery, many health studies have been performed in the community of Port Hope, Ontario, where the radium and uranium refining, processing and fabrication industry has existed since 1932. Environmental and epidemiological studies conducted in Port Hope indicate that levels of exposure to radioactive and non-radioactive contaminants are below levels known to cause adverse health effects. The evidence from these studies helps to inform the health of other populations living near nuclear processing, fabrication and refinery facilities, such as the Blind River Refinery. These findings are consistent with research studies conducted in other countries.
Based on current 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 the Blind River Refinery. For further information, access the CNSC Health Studies page.
https://www.algomapublichealth.com/stats-reports/
Conclusions
Our IEMP results from 2023, 2020, 2018, 2017, 2014 and 2013 are consistent with the results submitted by Cameco, 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 Blind River Refinery 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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