The International System of units (SI) for radioactivity used to measure the rate of radioactive
decay. One becquerel is defined as one decay per second.
Bq/m3
Becquerel per cubic metre. The unit used to report radioactivity concentration in air.
Error
The amount the calculated value may vary from the true value.
Location
The atmospheric water vapour samples are collected by tritium cells from stations located around
nuclear power plants. The "GE" stations are near the reactor in Gentilly, QC, "LE" stations are
near the Point Lepreau reactor, NB, the "PI" station is in Pickering, ON, and the "OA" station is in
Ottawa, ON.
Tritium
Tritium (3H) is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen. The nucleus contains one proton and two
neutrons, and undergoing decay via beta particle emission. It is produced naturally by cosmic
rays, but is also a by-product of CANDU nuclear reactors.
Volume Collected (L)
The amount of water vapour collected in the tritium cell. The tritium cells contain molecular sieve
material that absorbs water vapour that is drawn through the cell.
References
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. Tritium in Drinking Water. [Cited 2014-01-08]. Available from:
http://nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/readingroom/tritium/tritium_drinking_water_aug_2009.cfm
Environmental Radioactivity in Canada 1997-2009. 2013, Radiation Surveillance Division, Health
Canada: Ottawa, Ontario
Health Canada. Canadian Radiological Monitoring Network. [Cited 2014-01-08]. Available from:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/contaminants/radiation/crmn-rcsr/index-eng.php