Your News and Events

There is a lot of information on the web about radiation and radiation safety.

It can be difficult to know what to believe and which sources to trust.

We periodically post here news and events items, reports and research of note that our scientists believe to be credible and scientifically accurate.

NEWS

 

September 07, 2012
Appointment of the Hon.Steve Mahoney P.C., as the New President and CEO Announced
The Radiation Safety Institute of Canada’s Board of Governors Chair, Mr. Tim Armstrong, has announced the Appointment of the new President and CEO.

June 28, 2012
Retirement of President & CEO, Dr. Fergal Nolan Announced
The Radiation Safety Institute of Canada’s Board of Governors Chair, Mr. Tim Armstrong, has announced the RETIREMENT of long-time President and CEO, Dr. Fergal Nolan.

June 21, 2012
New Canadian Radon Certification Program for Radon Professionals

The National Radon Proficiency Program (NEHA-NRPP) has been working in co-operation with Health Canada to set up a new Canadian Radon Certification Program for radon professionals and analytical laboratories.

The Radiation Safety Institute of Canada has for many years been offering a Home Radon Testing Service.

June 12, 2012
Radiation Safety Institute of Canada CNSC PAD License Renewed
The Radiation Safety Institute of Canada is pleased to announce that its Personal Alpha Dosimetry (PAD) license with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has been renewed for a 10 year period. The Radiation Safety Institute of Canada remains the only licenced dosimetry service in Canada for the measurement of radon progeny and long-lived radioactive dust (LLRD).

May 5, 2012
Publications of Interest Regarding Effects of Atomic Radiation

The Radiation Safety Institute of Canada still receives many calls and emails from members of the public asking for more information on the contamination from the Fukushima event which occurred last year. Many organizations are still investigating the full effect of the incident, and reports are constantly being published on the subject. Here are two recent publications of interest:

• The United Nations Information Service published a PRESS RELEASE about the Annual Meeting of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. UNSCEAR is involved in a major assessment of the Fukushima-Daiichi accident, and is expected to publish an interim report shortly.
• The Health Physics Society hosted a National Press Club Event on the anniversary of the Fukushima event. It invited a panel of distinguished professionals to discuss interim results on assessments of the event and answer questions from the media.

March 28, 2012
IAEA reports on Japan’s stress tests

An ARTICLE in World Nuclear News reports that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has published its final report on Japan’s revised nuclear safety assessment process. It found that the new Japanese measures are “generally consistent” with IAEA safety standards, but outlined several areas for improvement.

March 28, 2012
Scientific American Report on Non-Radiation Ill Effects

An ARTICLE in Scientific American reports that, while reports of the radiation effects may have been overblown and could in fact be very negligible, the possible ill effects, such as heart disease and depression, from the year old earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan is having and will have far greater impact.

February 13, 2012
FDA Investigating Illegal Online Sales of Hand-Held X-ray Units

A PR Newswire-US Newswire Release indicates that the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is warning both dental and veterinary professionals not to purchase or use certain hand-held x-ray units being sold online by manufacturers outside the United States.

The Radiation Safety Institute of Canada is publishing this story as a public service alert. We have no knowledge at present of any such practice in Canada and are making this information available as a precaution, in view of the international sources of these machines.

January 27, 2012
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Fukushima Daiichi Status Report Just Released

The latest REPORT by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the status of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is now accessible online.

September 8, 2011
WiFi and Cell Phone Use Debate

A September 8, 2011 CNW Newswire ARTICLEreported the decision by the Pretty River Academy in Collingwood, Ontario to remove its WiFi service and replace it with a hard wired internet system “to protect children’s health”. Shortly thereafter, it was reported that another school had followed suit. The question is: Is WiFi a health concern? WiFi signals, or electro magnetic fields, are similar to those emitted by cell phones, about which there has been a plethora of conflicting opinions proffered on both sides of the question.

While the electro magnetic fields from WiFi are similar in nature to those from cell phones, the power level is lower. For the full story on this subject, see Information on EMF here on our website.

Events

December 16, 2011
“Radiation Safety in The Workplace” Podcast, Part II

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), in collaboration with the Radiation Safety Institute of Canada, has just released Part II of a special two-part mini-series Podcast on radiation in the workplace. In this episode, our Radiation Scientist Claire Cohalan, focuses on safety and how workers can protect themselves from radiation in the workplace.

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

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

November 15, 2011
“Radiation in The Workplace” Podcast, Part I

Join CCOHS and Claire Cohalan, Radiation Scientist at the Radiation Safety Institute of Canada, in this special two-part mini-series on Radiation in the Workplace.This episode focuses on radiation basics such as what is radiation, where it can be found and what are the potential health effects to workers? For the French version of the Podcast, visit Les rayonnements en milieu de travail : notions élémentaires.