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Independent Environmental Monitoring Program: Blind River Refinery

Site name Blind River Refinery
Licensee Cameco Corporation (Cameco)
Facility name Blind River Refinery (BRR)
Facility location Blind River, Ontario
Land acknowledgement The CNSC acknowledges that the Blind River Refinery is located within the Robinson-Huron and Robinson-Superior Treaties territory and the traditional territory of the Anishinabek, Métis and Odawa peoples, and, in particular, Mississauga First Nation.
Facility description The facility refines uranium concentrates (yellowcake) from uranium mines around the world, including northern Saskatchewan, to produce uranium trioxide (UO3), an intermediate product of the nuclear fuel cycle. The UO3 is then shipped to Cameco’s Port Hope Conversion Facility for further processing.
Environmental protection requirements In accordance with regulatory requirements under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act, all Class I nuclear facilities and uranium mines and mills must maintain a comprehensive environmental protection program to monitor and control nuclear and hazardous substances released from the facilities they own and operate. As part of every licensee’s environmental protection program, concentrations of contaminants in the environment must be determined and the potential exposure pathways to the public must be assessed and mitigated.

Our IEMP results from 2024, 2023, 2020, 2018, 2017, 2014 and 2013 are consistent with the results submitted by Cameco, supporting our assessment that the licensee’s environmental protection program is effective. The results add to the body of evidence that people and the environment in the vicinity of the Blind River Refinery are protected and that there are no anticipated health impacts from the operation of the facilities on the site.

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Blind River Refinery

1 The < symbol indicates that a result is below the provided laboratory analytical detection limit.

2 N/A – not available.

3 For radiological parameters (expressed as Bq/L, Bq/kg or Bq/m3) where no federal or provincial guidelines exist, our screening levels were established based on conservative assumptions using CSA standard N288.1-20, Guidelines for Modelling Radionuclide Environmental Transport, Fate, and Exposure Associated with the Normal Operation of Nuclear Facilities. The screening level for a particular radionuclide in a particular medium (e.g., water, air, food) represents the activity concentration that would result in a dose of 0.1 mSv/year, a dose at which no impacts on human health are expected. For more information, please refer to the IEMP technical information sheet.

4

5 For water samples, the results for non-radiological parameters are compared to the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life. Where no CCME guidelines exist, Health Canada’s Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality are used.

6 The screening level for a particular radionuclide in food represents the activity concentration in food that would result in a whole-body effective dose of 0.1 mSv/year to an individual, based on the ingestion exposure pathway. This is in alignment with the methodology in CSA N288.1-20. The dose of 0.1 mSv/year was chosen to align with the approach used by the World Health Organization and Health Canada for drinking water standards and it represents one tenth of the public dose limit. A conservative regional Indigenous diet, including the consumption rate, was used in the calculations.

7 The screening level for a particular hazardous substance represents the concentration of a hazardous substance in the food that would have to be present in order for one tenth of Health Canada's total daily intake (TDI) of that hazardous substance to be exceeded. A TDI is the amount of food that can be consumed over a specific period of time without significant health risks. The screening levels are based on one tenth of the TDI in order to account for exposure to the contaminants from multiple primary exposure pathways. A conservative regional Indigenous diet, including the consumption rate, was used in the calculations.

2024 results

The 2024 IEMP sampling plan for the Blind River Refinery focused on only air and food samples because water samples were collected in 2023. A site-specific sampling plan was developed based on the licensee’s approved environmental monitoring program and our regulatory experience with the site. We endeavour to incorporate traditional Indigenous land use, values and knowledge by engaging with Indigenous Nations and communities on the sampling plan. More information on this engagement is provided in the “Indigenous Nations and communities’ participation” section.

This campaign was a continuation of the 2023 sampling campaign. Air samples could not be collected in 2023 due to poor weather conditions. Food samples were added in 2024 at the request of the Mississauga First Nation. In October 2024, we collected air and food samples, including sturgeon, tobacco, kale, carrots, tomatoes, green peppers and cabbage, in publicly accessible areas outside the facility perimeter.

The levels of uranium measured in air were below the Ontario Ministry of the Environment Conservation and Parks’ ambient air quality criteria.

We calculated screening levels for all foodstuff except for tobacco. A screening level for tobacco was not calculated because exposure to tobacco is primarily through inhalation and not ingestion. The levels of uranium measured in food were below our screening levels. The levels of radioactivity and hazardous substances measured in tobacco were below the laboratory’s detection limits. Therefore, no risk is expected from uranium in the tobacco that was sampled.

2023 results

The 2023 IEMP sampling plan for the Blind River Refinery focused on radium-226, uranium, nitrate and pH. A site-specific sampling plan was developed based on the licensee’s approved environmental monitoring program and our regulatory experience with the site. We endeavour to incorporate traditional Indigenous land use, values and knowledge by engaging with Indigenous Nations and communities on the sampling plan. More information on this engagement is provided in the “Indigenous Nations and communities’ participation” section.

In October 2023, we collected water and soil samples in publicly accessible areas outside the facility perimeter. The collection of air samples had to be postponed until 2024 due to poor weather conditions.

The concentrations of uranium and nitrate in water measured in the samples were below the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) guideline levels (15 mg/L for uranium and 13 mg/L for nitrate). The concentrations of uranium in soil at all locations sampled in 2023 were below the applicable CCME soil quality guideline for residential and parkland use (23 mg/kg). For pH in water, the measured levels were within the CCME guideline (pH between 6.5 and 9.0). No health or environmental impacts are expected at these levels.

2020 Results

The 2020 IEMP sampling plan for BRR focused on radium-226, uranium, nitrate and pH. A site-specific sampling plan was developed based on the licensee’s approved environmental monitoring program and the CNSC’s regulatory experience with the site. In September 2020, CNSC staff collected air, soil and water samples in publicly accessible areas outside the facility perimeter.

The concentrations of uranium and nitrate in water measured in the samples were below the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment’s (CCME) guideline levels (15 mg/L for uranium and 13 mg/L for nitrate). The concentrations of uranium in soil at all locations sampled in 2020 were below the applicable CCME soil quality guideline for residential and parkland use (23 mg/kg). The measured concentrations of uranium in air were below the levels set by Ontario’s Ambient Air Quality Criteria (0.03 µg of uranium per cubic metre of air (µg/m3)). For pH in water, the measured levels were within the CCME guidelines (pH between 6.5 and 9.0). No health or environmental impacts are expected at these levels.

2020 marks the first year that radium-226 was analyzed in water. All of the radium-226 results are below 0.03 Bq/L and Health Canada’s drinking water quality guideline of 0.5 Bq/L.

This year the CNSC laboratory analyzed the soil results using the same methodology as that used to establish the CCME guidelines. As a result, soil concentrations are lower than those in previous years and are more accurately comparable with the CCME guidelines.

With the exception of uranium in soil (which is lower, due to the change in laboratory method), the results for 2020 were similar to those obtained for 2018, 2017, 2014 and 2013.

2018 Results

The 2018 IEMP sampling plan for the BRR site focused on uranium, nitrate and pH. The IEMP assessed uranium against its more sensitive and therefore more restrictive chemical toxicity thresholds as a potentially toxic metal (hazardous substance). A site-specific sampling plan was developed based on Cameco's approved environmental monitoring program, CSA Group standards and the CNSC's regulatory experience with the site. In October 2018, samples were collected in publicly accessible areas outside the BRR site perimeter fence and included air, soil and water.

The concentrations of uranium and nitrate in water measured in the samples were below the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment's (CCME) guideline levels (15 mg/L for uranium and 13 mg/L for nitrate). The concentrations of uranium in soil at all locations sampled in 2018 were below the applicable CCME soil quality guideline for residential and parkland use (23 mg/kg). The measured concentrations of uranium in air were below the levels set by Ontario's Ambient Air Quality Criteria (0.03 µg of uranium per cubic meter of air (µg/m3)). With regard to pH levels in water, the measured levels were within the CCME guidelines (pH between 6.5 and 9.0). No health or environmental impacts are expected at these levels.

The 2018 sampling campaign also included sites on Mississauga First Nations (MFN) land. Samples of air, soil and water at several sites were selected based on prior discussions between CNSC staff and MFN. The results for the samples obtained on MFN land were below applicable guidelines. The results were also similar to what was found from the 2013, 2014 and 2017 sampling campaigns as well as the results for the other sampling sites outside the BRR site perimeter for 2018.

The results for the four sampling years are similar and are below all applicable guidelines. Since the IEMP results represent a snapshot in time, the small differences between sample results can be attributed to slight differences in the sampling locations, seasonal variations, facility operations, meteorological conditions, and/or natural variations in background radiation.

2013, 2014 and 2017 results

The 2013, 2014 and 2017 IEMP sampling plans for the BRR site were similar to the 2018 plan and focused on uranium, nitrate and pH. Air, soil and water samples were collected by CNSC staff in publicly accessible areas outside the BRR facility site perimeter for the sampling campaigns.

The 2013, 2014 and 2017 IEMP results confirmed that the public and the environment in the vicinity of the BRR site were protected from the releases from the facility and that there were no health or environmental impacts expected at these levels.

Indigenous Nations and communities’ participation

We have made it a priority to ensure that IEMP sampling reflects Indigenous traditional knowledge, land use and values, where possible. In addition to routine IEMP sampling activities, we seek input from local Indigenous Nations and communities on IEMP sampling plans. In advance of the 2024 IEMP sampling campaign around Blind River Refinery, CNSC staff notified Indigenous Nations and communities near the facility of the planned sampling campaign, sought their input on the sampling plan and invited them to join CNSC staff in the field for sampling activities.

Mississauga First Nation

In advance of the 2023 and 2024 IEMP sampling campaign at the Blind River Refinery, emails were sent to Indigenous Nations and communities near the facility to notify them of the sampling campaign and to seek input on the sampling plan. We invited suggestions for species of interest, valued components, and potential sampling locations where traditional practices and activities may take place.

In previous years, CNSC staff had worked with the Mississauga First Nation (MFN) to develop the sampling plans. In 2023, CNSC staff met with the MFN to discuss the IEMP and proposed that the 2023 sampling plan remain identical to the plan used previously. Samples were collected at several locations based on previous discussions between CNSC staff and MFN. In 2024, the MFN joined the CNSC field team to collect the food samples from their community garden. CNSC staff will continue to work with the MFN on future IEMP sampling campaigns at the Blind River Refinery.

We will continue to engage with interested Indigenous Nations and communities to ensure that IEMP sampling incorporates Indigenous knowledge in future sampling.

Focus on health

We review the results of public health reports and data, international publications, and at times conduct our own health studies to provide additional confidence that the health of people living near the Blind River Refinery is protected. The Blind River Refinery is located in the Algoma region within Northeastern Ontario.

In Algoma, chronic diseases are the leading cause of death, with cancer and heart disease as the major contributors. The leading causes of cancer-related deaths are lung, colorectal (males), and breast (females).

Like Ontario, the most diagnosed cancers in Algoma are lung, colorectal, breast (females), and prostate (males). From 2016 to 2020, Algoma had the highest cancer incidence rates in Ontario.

Compared to the rest of Ontario for this time period, Algoma had higher incidence rates for the following: bladder, colorectal, esophagus, kidney, larynx and lung cancer; non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma; cancer of the pancreas, prostate, thyroid and uterus; and all cancers combined. Esophagus, lung, and larynx cancer are considered preventable, with lung being one of the most preventable cancers in Canada.

Health data often varies by region, and the opportunity to be healthy is not the same for everyone; it is affected by personal, lifestyle, social, economic, environmental, and systemic factors. In Algoma, the use of alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, and toxic drugs is higher compared to Ontario. Use of these harmful substances can increase the risk of developing chronic diseases.

In Algoma, 14.3% of the population (compared to 2.9% in Ontario) identifies as Indigenous, with First Nations and Métis as most prevalent. Among First Nations communities in Northern Ontario, 61% of all deaths occurred before the age of 65, compared to only 22% in Ontario. Within Ontario, First Nations communities have higher cancer mortality and cancer incidence rates from lung, colorectal, kidney, cervical and liver cancers, compared to the non-Indigenous population. First Nations and Métis communities also have higher rates of smoking and alcohol consumption compared to the non-Indigenous population.

There are no specific studies on health effects from the presence of the Blind River Refinery; however, several studies have been conducted in Port Hope, Ontario, where the radium and uranium refining, processing and fabrication industry has existed since 1932. In 2011, the CNSC used a weight of evidence approach to summarize the environmental and health studies conducted in the area and there was no evidence to suggest that the existence of nuclear facilities in Port Hope contributed to adverse health outcomes. A 2013 CNSC study examined mortality (1950–99) and cancer incidence (1969–99) among uranium and radium processing workers in Port Hope. Overall, workers had lower mortality and cancer incidence compared to the general Canadian population. These studies help inform the health of populations living near nuclear facilities, such as the Blind River Refinery.

CNSC staff concluded that the observed health outcomes in Algoma are unlikely to be related to the presence of the Blind River Refinery. This conclusion was based on: current levels of radionuclides in the environment; radiation exposure of the local population; current scientific knowledge about the sources, effects and risks of ionizing radiation; and relevant local and provincial health data.

For additional information:

Conclusions

Our IEMP results from 2024, 2023, 2020, 2018, 2017, 2014 and 2013 are consistent with the results submitted by Cameco, supporting our assessment that the licensee’s environmental protection program is effective. The results add to the body of evidence that people and the environment in the vicinity of the Blind River Refinery are protected and that there are no anticipated health impacts from the operation of the facilities on the site.

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