Uranium, beryllium soil samples near BWXT Peterborough show ‘no risk’: independent study
Global News
Soil samples were collected from parks and schools around the city, along with samples in the village of Omemee.
The latest soil samples taken around BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada’s facility in Peterborough, Ont., show levels of beryllium and uranium that do not exceed safety and health guidelines, an independent study concludes.
As part of its operating licence renewal agreement, BWXT conducts routine soil sampling at several sites in the city, including Prince of Wales Public School across from the Monaghan Road facility.
The Toronto-based company ships uranium dioxide-filled pellets to the Peterborough facility where they are assembled into CANDU fuel bundles. Beryllium is a lightweight metal used in “small amounts” to join portions of the bundles together.
According to the September 2021 soil sampling study conducted by SDK Environmental Consulting Services, samples were collected from nearby parks and the school, along with samples from 25 kilometres west of the facility in the village of Omemee.
The study notes the samples in the Peterborough area did not exceed guidelines for environmental protection and human health established by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME):
According to the study, the CCME says the average beryllium soil concentration in Canada is 0.75 mg/kg, but can range from 0.25 mg/kg to 16 mg/kg. The average uranium soil concentration worldwide is 2 mg/kg.
SDK concluded the results for beryllium and uranium for all samples are “well below” the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks safety standards, a similar result for samples collected in 2020 as part of the company’s licence renewal application. The licence renewal was approved in January 2021.
“Based on the results of the sampling program there is no evidence that beryllium or uranium used at the BWXT facility have had any impact on Peterborough soils,” wrote Brian J. Schuyler, senior consultant with SDK.
