Inventory of Federal, Provincial and Territorial Environmental and Occupational Health Data
Sources and Surveillance Activities

Health and Environment Initiatives and Activities

3) Radiation

3.1 Environmental Monitoring

National Dose Registry (NDR) (HC): Occupational radiation exposure data on virtually all monitored radiation workers (500,000) in Canada since its creation in 1951; includes about 80 different job categories. Exposure data include: external exposures to gamma rays, beta rays, X-rays, and neutrons, as well as internal exposures to tritium and radon progeny. Individual exposure data can be linked to the Canadian Mortality Database (Statistics Canada) and the Canadian Cancer Data Base. Data are provided by provincial dosimetry services.

Ozone and UV Monitoring Program (EC): Consists of 12 monitoring sites that routinely collect and process data on a daily basis. Total ozone and spectral UV irradiation are measured every 10-20 minutes. Information is used for ozone and UV index forecasting, trend analysis and ongoing scientific research. The real-time and archived data are accessible through EC's website.

3.2 Environmental Health Surveillance

NDR Linkage to Statistics Canada's Canadian Mortality Database and the Canadian Cancer Database (HC): The objective is to apply surveillance data to determine the impact of occupational exposure to radiation on mortality and on cancer incidence.

3.3 Environment and Public Health Indicators

UV Index (EC in cooperation with HC and others): Developed to raise awareness of the risks due to exposure to the sun's ultra-violet B (UVB) radiation and to provide information so that Canadians can take individual action to protect their health from the UVB rays. The UV Index uses a simple numerical scale - 0 to 10 in Canada - to inform people about the strength of the sun's UVB rays, where high values indicate stronger UVB radiation. Currently in wide use in 26 countries around the world.