Health Canada, Public Safety Canada, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and other federal and provincial agencies are assessing potential health risks in Canada from earthquake-damaged nuclear power plants in Japan.

The federal government is responsible for radiation monitoring stations across Canada and recently increased the number of radiation monitoring stations on the West Coast.

Information about radiation dose rates in Canada is posted at the following Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission web page:
 Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission website 

Daily dose rates measured at monitoring stations in B.C. are posted here:
 Health Canada

As the Provincial Health Officer has noted, federal authorities have assured Canadians there is no indication that there is any radiation health risk to Canadians at this time.

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control is one of the provincial health agencies that is assessing potential concerns. Updates and a “Questions and Answers” document written for the public is posted on this BCCDC web page:
 BC Centre for Disease Control - Status of Radiological Activity in Japan

Based on the most recent information from monitoring stations in B.C. and assessments of public health authorities, Metro Vancouver does not anticipate the radiation from the situation in Japan having any effect on the safety of the Metro Vancouver water supplies.

However, it was deemed prudent to have up-to-date monitoring information and so more frequent monitoring for radiological parameters for all three water supplies began after the earthquake in Japan. Data were collected for gross Alpha and Beta activity, Strontium 90, Iodine 131 and Cesium 137 over a period of 6 weeks, starting the week after the earthquake in Japan through the end of April. The results indicate normal background levels for these radionuclides and tell us that our water supplies have not been affected by the situation in Japan.

In early May the decision was made in consultation with the local public health authorities to discontinue this level of monitoring. Should the situation change in Japan, the need to increase the level of monitoring will again be evaluated.

In September, additional tests confirmed the accident in Japan did not have any effect on the safety of Metro Vancouver water supplies.

 Test results for Metro Vancouver water

Metro Vancouver monitors naturally-occurring radionuclides annually as part of its ongoing water quality monitoring program. The results are available in an annual report on drinking water quality which is available on Metro Vancouver’s website, www.metrovancouver.org In general, background levels of naturally occurring radionuclides in water are below detection with occasional exceptions, most likely due to analytical variation of the test.

Click here for a direct link to the most recent Quality Control Annual Water Report:
 Metro Vancouver Quality & Treatment webpage