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Independent Environmental Monitoring Program: McArthur River Operation

Sitename McArthur River Operation
Licensee Cameco Corporation (Cameco)
Facility name McArthur River Operation
Facility location 620 km north of Saskatoon on Read Creek, within the Waterfound River watershed
Land acknowledgement The CNSC acknowledges that the McArthur River Operation is located within Treaty 8 territory, the Homeland of the Métis, and is within the traditional territories of the Dene, Cree, and Métis peoples.
Facility description The McArthur River Operation includes an underground mine, primary ore processing, ore slurry loading, waste management facilities, a water treatment plant, effluent storage ponds, surface freeze plants using ammonia, administration offices, a residence and warehouses. Ore is transported by truck to the Key Lake mill.
Environmental protection requirements In accordance with regulatory requirements under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act, all licensees 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 ofevery licensee’s environmental protection program, concentrations of contaminants in the environment must be determined and the potential exposure routes to the public must be assessed.

Our Independent Environmental Monitoring Program (IEMP) results from 2021 and 2014 (last IEMP campaign in the vicinity of McArthur River) 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 McArthur River Operation are protected and that there are no anticipated health impacts from the operation of the facilities on the site. 

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McArthur River Operation

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Results Table

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 N288.1-14, Guidelines for Calculating Derived Release Limits for Radioactive Material in Airborne and Liquid Effluents for 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 (millisieverts per year), a dose at which no impacts on human health are expected. For more information, please refer to the IEMP technical information sheet.

4 For hazardous substances (expressed as mg/kg fresh weight) where no federal or provincial guidelines exist, our screening levels were calculated using the mean daily intake rate from a typical Indigenous diet in northern Saskatchewan, the average body weight of the receptor, and one tenth of Health Canada’s tolerable daily intake (TDI) rate for the hazardous substance. 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 hazardous substance from multiple primary exposure pathways.

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, the Health Canada Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality are used.

2021 Results

The 2021 IEMP sampling plan for the McArthur River Operation focused on radioactive and hazardous substances (e.g., metals). 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 August 2021, CanNorth collected surface water, fish (lake whitefish, white sucker and northern pike), blueberries and Labrador tea samples at a reference station (Lower Read Lake) not exposed to the activities of the McArthur River Operation and at an exposure station (Little Yalowega Lake). In addition, hunters from the English River First Nation (ERFN) collected 2 moose samples: one at the road between the Key Lake Operation and the McArthur River Operation at around the 63 km marker, and one at highway 914 approximately 62 km north of Pinehouse. All sampling locations were outside the McArthur River Operation site perimeter. These samples were sent to a SRC laboratories for testing and analysis.

Moose samples collected by the ERFN were also analyzed as part of the IEMP. Please refer to the Key Lake dashboard for the results and analysis. Radioactivity levels (radiological contaminants) and concentrations of hazardous contaminants in surface-water samples were within natural background levels Footnote 1 and below the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) guidelines for the protection of aquatic life Footnote 2 and the Province of Saskatchewan’s drinking water quality standards and objectives Footnote 3. Therefore, the surface water is safe to drink relative to the parameters analyzed.

For radiological contaminants in fish, Labrador tea and blueberries, CNSC staff compared monitoring results to CNSC screening levels to ensure that human health is protected. CNSC screening levels were calculated based on conservative assumptions about ingestion of food and outdoor exposure using CSA standard N288.1-14 Footnote 4 and International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) Publication 119 Footnote 5. The screening level for each radionuclide in a particular medium (e.g., fish, Labrador tea, berries) represents the radioactivity level that would result in a dose of 0.1 mSv/year (millisieverts per year), or one tenth of the CNSC regulatory dose limit for a member of the public of 1 mSv per year Footnote 6. The approach used by CNSC staff to calculate screening levels is similar to the Health Canada and World Health Organization approach for drinking water guidelines Footnote 7 Footnote 8, where 0.1 mSv/year is also used.

With the exception of polonium-210 and lead-210 in fish, discussed below, the measured radioactivity levels for all radiological contaminants in fish, Labrador tea and blueberries were below the CNSC screening levels for radionuclides.
The measured radioactivity levels of polonium-210 in fish at both the exposure and reference stations were within the regional background range of 0.02 to 14 Bq/kg (becquerels per kilogram) fresh weight Footnote 1 and were consistent with the results from the Eastern Athabasca Regional Monitoring Program (EARMP) for the northern Saskatchewan region Footnote 9. The highest radioactivity level of polonium‑210 in fish analyzed in the McArthur River study area was 1.7 Bq/kg fresh weight in a northern pike sample caught at the Lower Read Lake reference station. This level of polonium-210 is within the natural background range, bearing in mind that, by definition, a reference station is not affected by a facility’s operations. The results also show that radioactivity levels of polonium-210 in fish (maximum was 1.4 Bq/kg fresh weight) in the Little Yalowega Lake exposure area were not the result of the McArthur River Operation since they were similar to the levels detected at the reference station (Lower Read Lake). This means that they are attributable to natural background radioactivity levels for the region.

One of the measured radioactivity levels of lead-210 in fish was 3.0 Bq/kg fresh weight at the Little Yalowega Lake exposure station. This result is within the regional background range of 0.05 to 8 Bq/kg fresh weight Footnote 1. All of the other values were below the detection limit. CNSC staff performed an analysis using the ERICA Assessment tool and concluded that there is no radiological risk to fish from lead-210 at this level. The ERICA Assessment tool is a software system that determines the dose rates to biota and assesses whether there is a risk to the biota.

Consumption of fish is not expected to result in any adverse health effects from polonium-210 or lead-210 given the conservative nature of the screening levels. The radioactivity levels in water and other country foods harvested in the area were well below screening levels. The screening levels are conservative because they are based on an individual receiving a dose of 0.1 mSv/yr.

As a result, the consumption of water, fish, Labrador tea or blueberries is not expected to result in any adverse health effects from radiological contaminants.

CNSC screening levels were also calculated for hazardous contaminants. The CNSC screening level represents the concentration required for a representative person (adult or child) to ingest one tenth of Health Canada's tolerable daily intake (TDI) of a hazardous contaminant from multiple food ingestion pathways, such as drinking water, fruit, vegetables and fish/meat. This adds conservatism to the assessment because it considers that the receptor could be exposed to a contaminant through 10 different exposure pathways. It is likely that only 1 or 2 pathways are predominant; however, the CNSC’s assessment takes into account all 10 pathways. A TDI is the concentration of a hazardous contaminant that is safe for daily ingestion by humans on a long‑term basis. The CNSC screening levels developed for the McArthur River IEMP sampling campaign are conservative and are calculated using ingestion rates for a regional Indigenous diet.

With the exception of selenium in fish, discussed below, the concentration of hazardous contaminants in fish, blueberries and Labrador tea were below CNSC screening levels for hazardous substances.

The regional background concentration of selenium in fish ranges from 0.12 to 3.03 mg/kg (milligrams per kilogram) fresh weight Footnote 1. The concentration of selenium in northern pike ranged from 0.37 to 0.43 mg/kg fresh weight at the Lower Read Lake reference station and from 0.21 to 0.41 mg/kg fresh weight at the Little Yalowega Lake exposure station. The highest concentrations of selenium in lake whitefish and white sucker were 0.37 and 0.41 mg/kg fresh weight in Lower Read Lake (reference station) and Little Yalowega Lake (exposure station) respectively. The measured concentrations of selenium in fish at both the exposure and reference stations were within the regional background concentration range. The results also show that concentrations of selenium in fish in the exposure area of Little Yalowega Lake were not the result of the McArthur River Operation since they were similar to the levels detected at the reference station (Lower Read Lake). This means that they are attributable to natural background selenium levels for the region. The results are also consistent with the results from the EARMP for the northern Saskatchewan region [9].

The highest concentration of selenium in fish analyzed in the McArthur River study area was 0.43 mg/kg fresh weight in the lake whitefish sample, caught at the Little Yalowega Lake exposure station. A concentration of 0.43 mg/kg fresh weight in fish is 20% of the selenium TDI of 2.17 mg/kg fresh weight. The selenium contribution from other ingestion pathways, including water, blueberries and Labrador tea, was negligible. No health effects are expected from the consumption of fish due to selenium. This is because the highest concentration of selenium in fish was less than 50% of the conservative CNSC screening level, and the selenium concentrations in all other samples analyzed (water, Labrador tea, blueberries) were well below the screening level.

For context, the selenium concentrations in fish tissue on a dry weight basis are below the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s 2016 selenium criterion for fish muscle tissue of 11.3 mg/kg dry weight. This indicates that the fish are not affected by selenium from the McArthur River Operation.

2014 Results

The 2014 IEMP sampling plan for the McArthur River Operation focused on both radiological (nuclear) and non-radiological (hazardous) contaminants. 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 2014, water samples were collected at a reference station upstream of the effluent discharge point, and at an exposure station downstream of the effluent discharge point, both located outside the McArthur River Operation site perimeter. View detailed sampling data.

The measured radioactivity in the samples was well below drinking water quality guidelines. No health impacts are expected at these levels.

With respect to the non-radiological analysis, the concentrations of analyzed substances in water were below the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment's guidelines and within the natural background levels. No health or environmental impacts are expected at these levels.

To obtain the full technical IEMP report, contact us at cnsc.info.ccsn@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca or call 613-995-5894 or 1-800-668-5284 (in Canada). Please provide the name of the facility and the report year.

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 our IEMP sampling plans.

In advance of the 2021 IEMP sampling campaign at the McArthur River Operation, notification emails were sent to Indigenous Nations and communities near the facility to notify them of the 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.

CNSC staff sent the draft IEMP sampling plan to and held teleconferences with ERFN to gather feedback. As part of their review process, ERFN shared the draft IEMP sampling plan with Community Elders, Leadership and Land Users. ERFN reviewed the draft sampling plan and concluded that the sampling locations and sampling media were acceptable. In their review, ERFN indicated that their community members frequently harvest moose at locations between the Key Lake and McArthur River operations. As a result, ERFN suggested to the CNSC that moose samples be included in the IEMP. CNSC staff incorporated 2 moose samples into the final sampling plan. CNSC staff will continue to engage with ERFN on the McArthur River Operation.

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

Focus on health

We review the results of existing health reports and conduct health studies to provide further independent verification that the health of people in and around the McArthur River Operation is protected.

CNSC staff reviewed local health reports from the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority, as well as provincial health reports from the Saskatchewan Health Authority and the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency to assess various health indicators for communities near the McArthur River Operation.

It is important to understand not only the overall health of the community near a mine/mill site, but also the relationship between workplace exposures and workers’ long-term health.

CNSC staff previously examined the relationship between radon exposure and health among workers employed at the Beaverlodge and Port Radium uranium mine sites and the Port Hope radium and uranium facility between 1932 and 1980. Overall, uranium milling, mining and processing workers were as healthy as the general Canadian population. Lung cancer was the one exception – lung cancer mortality and cancer incidence rates were higher among uranium workers. The risk of lung cancer increased with increasing cumulative radon exposure. Studies of former uranium workers led to stricter radiation protection regulations, resulting in a drastic decrease in radon exposures in uranium mines. Studying the long-term health of workers is important to ensure that our radiation protection knowledge base reflects the best available science for the protection of workers and the public. The CNSC and its partners initiated a study of 80,000 past and present Canadian uranium workers to add new knowledge on the long-term health of workers and the relationship between radon and lung cancer, especially at the low radon exposures of today’s workers. The results are expected in 2023.

Based on exposure and health data, we have not observed and do not expect any adverse health outcomes relating to the presence of the McArthur River Operation. Access our library of health studies and third-party research.

If you would like more general health information and data for your community, please visit the following websites:

https://populationhealthunit.ca/health_monitoring_and_research.html
https://www.nitha.com/
https://www.saskhealthauthority.ca/
http://www.saskcancer.ca/research-article/cancer-surveillance

View detailed sampling data.

Conclusions

Our IEMP results from 2021 and 2014 (last IEMP campaign in the vicinity of the McArthur River Operation) 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 McArthur River Operation are protected and that there are no anticipated health impacts from the operation of the facilities on the site.

Endnotes

Footnote 1

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. (2014). Environmental Performance of a Uranium Mine or Mill Regulated Under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act: Based on Environmental Data Associated with Operating Uranium Mines and Mills (2000–2012). Presented to the Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement.

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Footnote 2

Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment. (1999). Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life.

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Footnote 3

Government of Saskatchewan. (2016). Saskatchewan Environmental Quality Guidelines.

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Footnote 4

CSA Group. (2014). CSA N288.1-14: Guidelines for Calculating Derived Release Limits for Radioactive Material in Airborne and Liquid Effluents for Normal Operation of Nuclear Facilities.

Return to 4 referrer

Footnote 5

International Commission on Radiological Protection. (2012). ICRP Publication 119, Compendium of Dose Coefficients Based on ICRP Publication 60.

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Footnote 6

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. (2000). Radiation Protection Regulations (SOR/2000-203), https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-2000-203/page-1.html.

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Footnote 7

Health Canada. (2012). Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality – Summary Tables.

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Footnote 8

Health Canada. (2009). Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality: Guideline Technical Document – Radiological Parameters.

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Footnote 9

Eastern Athabasca Regional Monitoring Program. Our Reports, https://www.earmp.ca/reports.

https://www.earmp.ca/reports.

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