NMS Tritium in Drinking Water Data Dictionary

Becquerel (Bq)
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/L
Becquerel per litre. The units used to report radioactivity concentration in water.

Error
The amount the calculated value may vary from the true value.

Location
The drinking water is collected from either Britannia or Lemieux water treatment plants in Ottawa, ON.

Start Date
The date the drinking water was collected, usually once per week.

Tritium
Tritium (3H) is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen.  The nucleus contains one proton and two neutrons, undergoing decay via beta particle emission.  It is produced naturally by cosmic rays, but is also a by-product of CANDU nuclear reactors.

Tritium Activity
The radioactivity concentration in a water sample due to tritium, in units of Becquerels per litre.

Type
The types of water sample are either “treated” or “raw”.

Vol (mL)
Volume of the sample collected, in units of millilitres.


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