Natural Resources Canada's Radiation Monitoring Data

Natural Resources Canada conducts mobile gamma radiation surveys using radiation detectors mounted on cars or trucks. Natural Resources Canada's relocatable radiation survey instruments also take still measurements in various locations.

Natural Resources Canada conducted mobile surveys on Vancouver Island and the BC mainland during the week of March 22-28. In addition, they have conducted surveys of normal background radiation levels in major Canadian cities during the past year.

For easy comparison with the Health Canada fixed point network data, the Natural Resources Canada measurements have been scaled to represent an average daily dose, though in fact the length of the measurement may have been shorter.

The quantities of radiation reaching Canada are very small and do not pose any health risk to Canadians. We have seen very slight increases in radiation across the country, smaller than the normal day to day fluctuations. We expect that these will continue until approximately a week after the reactors are stabilized.

NRCan Daily Dose Measurements
Description Date Daily Dose (µSv/day)
Historical Mobile Survey around Vancouver Feb/Mar 2010 0.76
Historical Fixed Point Measurement on UBC campus February 2010 0.58
Historical Fixed Point Measurement in Vancouver East February 2010 0.63
Historical Mobile Survey around Toronto May 2010 0.68
Historical Mobile Survey around Halifax October 2010 1.12
Historical Mobile Survey around St. John's November 2010 1.21
Mobile Survey of Saanich Peninsula March 22, 2011 0.37
Mobile Survey of Victoria March 22, 2011 0.48
Fixed Point Measurement in Sidney March 22, 2011 0.40
Mobile Survey around Vancouver March 24, 2011 0.67
Fixed Point Measurement on UBC campus March 24, 2011 0.69
Fixed Point Measurement in Vancouver East March 24, 2011 0.54
Fixed Point Measurement at Vancouver International Airport March 24, 2011 0.67
Fixed Point Measurement in Squamish March 24, 2011 0.59
Mobile Survey around Haida Gwaii March 24, 2011 0.73
Mobile Survey around Vancouver March 25, 2011 0.72
Fixed Point Measurement Seaforth Armory March 25, 2011 0.71
Fixed Point Measurement in Vancouver East March 25, 2011 0.60
Mobile Survey of Saanich Peninsula April 12, 2011 0.51
Mobile Survey  around Victoria April 13, 2011 0.54
Fixed Point Measurement Sidney April 13, 2011 0.55
Mobile Survey around Vancouver April 15, 2011 0.76
Fixed Point Measurement near Vancouver International Airport April 15, 2011 0.61
Fixed Point Measurement Seaforth Armory April 15, 2011 0.73
Fixed Point Measurement on UBC campus April 15, 2011 0.64
Mobile Survey around Vancouver and along the Sea 2 Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler April 16, 2011 0.68
Fixed Point Measurement Vancouver East April 16, 2011 0.54
Fixed Point Measurement West Vancouver April 16, 2011 0.64
Fixed Point Measurement Whistler April 16, 2011 0.54
Mobile Survey around Vancouver and along the Sea 2 Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler April 16, 2011 0.68
Mobile Survey  around Vancouver April 17, 2011 0.70
Fixed Point Measurement on UBC campus April 17, 2011 0.66

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