Arranged at the request of the Japanese government, the 10-member team will consist of IAEA nuclear experts and international specialists who will hold meetings with Japanese officials in Tokyo and conduct a site visit to the Ohi Nuclear Power Plant in Fukui Prefecture.

Japan PM Says Fukushima Nuclear Site Finally Stabilized
A December 16, 2011 report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has welcomed the announcement by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda of the “cold shutdown condition” of the Fukushima nuclear site. According to Prime Minister Noda, the site is in a “stable state”, and the release of radioactive materials is “under control”.

You can listen by following the “Radiation in The Workplace” link on the following pages:

In English, visit www.ccohs.ca/products/podcasts/.

Le balado est aussi disponible en français, à www.cchst.ca/products/podcasts/.

You can listen by following the “Radiation in The Workplace” link on the following pages:

In English, visit www.ccohs.ca/products/podcasts/.

Le balado est aussi disponible en français, à www.cchst.ca/products/podcasts/.

Stay tuned! The second part of this podcast will be available next month!

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has recently updated its estimate on the threshold dose, decreasing it to 500 mGy to the lens of the eye, and now recommends an equivalent dose limit for the lens of the eye of no more than 50 mSv in a single year, and no more than 100 mSv in a defined 5 year period.

For more information on radiation induced cataracts, visit the IAEA Cataract Study.

For full details regarding your legal obligations, as well as the subjects covered, visit the “Your Workplace” tab above and look under our “Education and Training Services” section for “Professional Certificate Courses”

Media coverage of the earthquake and the tsunami that hit Japan on March 11, 2011 is extensive. Japan is facing many challenges dealing with the consequences of these catastrophic events. One of the important issues is the situation at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which has sustained serious damage from the earthquake and the tsunami.

The story continues to develop and is being closely monitored by media worldwide. Rather than restating the same information, we would like to help you better understand the scientific fundamentals behind the story, and explain some of the terminology and units of measurement used in the coverage.

Many sources are doing a great job providing up-to-date information on the developments at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. In addition to the media that you may have already consulted, we would like to suggest several information sources that we have found particularly helpful.

• For general questions about what radiation is, what the health effects of exposure are, etc., visit :
  • Radiation Safety Institute’sFAQ
  • The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety ionizing radiation FAQ

 

• To better understand what happened where, and when, visit:
  • The Washington Post graphics, “Japan’s nuclear emergency
  • The CBC’s interactive “Disaster in Japan”

 

• For reliable, up-to-date information about the state of the reactors and dose-rate measurements, visit:
  • The International Atomic Energy Agency Update on Japan Earthquake

 

• To find answers to your health and safety concerns, visit:
  • Public Safety Canada’s Japan Earthquake Information for Canadians
  • Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s “Japan Earthquake: Information for Canadians Regarding Imported Foods”
  • Public Health Agency of Canada “Nuclear Emergency in Japan: Travel Notice”
  • World Health Organization FAQs: Japan nuclear concerns




• For information on safety of nuclear power plants in Canada, visit:
  • The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Questions and Answers

The segment, called #1 Cancer Risk in your Home brought to light the dangers of long-term exposure to radioactive radon and the uncomfortable truth about how wide-spread the problem really is.

Dr Oz brought to his audience expert opinion, research and recommendations from the leading national and international organisations working to raise awareness on this important public health issue.

If you watch the show you will learn:

• radon is a Class A carcinogen. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer among smokers and the first leading cause lung cancer in non-smokers
• radon is a naturally occurring, colourless, odourless, highly toxic gas
• radon may seep into your home and, when trapped indoors, may become a serious health hazard
• one in every 15 homes in the US has high radon levels
• the only way to know how much radon you have  in your home is to get your home tested
• mitigation does not have to be complicated or expensive

Radon is not constrained by borders and many of the points made by Dr Oz are universally applicable. Though national statistics may vary between countries, there is no doubt that, wherever you live, the single most important step you can take today to protect your family is to get your  home tested.

Please remember: because radon levels may fluctuate over time, for an accurate result the Radiation Safety Institute of Canada and Heath Canada recommend using a 90-day, long-term test.

You can watch the full episode by following this link: The Dr. Oz Show

For more information on radon and to purchase a test please  click here.

Home radon testing is simple and inexpensive.  Don’t put it off, do it today!

The survey participants are being randomly selected across all provinces and territories. Participation in this study is 100% voluntary. Home owners are being recruited over the phone and offered a long-term (90-day) do-it-yourself radon test.  The results of the tests are then being analysed and communicated to the home owners, along with the  remediation information, where necessary.

Analysis of the first phase data was completed last year, after approximately 9000 homes were tested during the fall-winter of 2009/2010. The first year survey results have been tabulated and can be found summarized in the table below. The table was prepared by Health Canada and contains information on the percentage of participants in each province/territory and the respective results. In order to better understand the table,  keep in mind that Health Canada recommends that remedial action be taken where radon levels exceed 200 Bq/m³.

Year Radon Results by Province and Territory

* Source: Health Canada, Environmental and Workplace Health/Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentration in Homes (2010), see: www.hc-sc.gc.ca

What Does this Mean for You?

Please keep in mind that whether or not higher than 200 Bq/m³ radon levels were registered in your province, there is no other reliable way to know the actual radon level in any individual building than testing. If nothing else, the first year survey results only reinforce the importance of testing your home for radioactive radon gas.

To learn more about the Cross-Canada Radon Survey,  please visit the Health Canada website.

To learn more about the Institute’s radon testing service, go to our Home Radon Testing page.