Do you have a piece of Eldorado Nuclear in your home? Interior gamma scanning can help you figure that out. Interior scanning is one of four tests in the Property Radiological Survey used to determine the presence of historic low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) in your Port Hope home. Construction supplies, tools or other materials that might have come home with an employee, as an accepted practice of bringing home surplus workplace materials, may be contaminated.
The interior test is completed with a Ludlum ratemeter that identifies elevations of gamma radiation by scanning walls, floors and ceilings. These appointments usually take between three and four hours, depending on the size of the house. CNL contractors follow very strict safety protocols and wear face coverings, safety glasses and gloves for these visits. In addition, hands are sanitized or washed upon arrival and departure.
While the test can identify contaminated material, there are other materials with a natural gamma signature, like brick or granite. When an elevated reading is found, the gamma reading and materials are reviewed by CNL technical staff to determine if the source is naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) or LLRW. If no elevated gamma readings are found, no additional testing is required.
If however gamma elevation indicates the potential for LLRW, further testing may be required to confirm the findings. Additional destructive testing may involve removing drywall to access materials underneath or within a wall. Destructive testing is usually performed when an interior cleanup has been scheduled for completion.
Participation in PHAI activities is not mandatory and any waste identified and not cleaned up will become the responsibility of the property owner and noted in their Compliance Letter. At this time CNL is completing the cleanup of LLRW at no cost to the property owner.
If you would like to get additional information about the testing of your property, or review results from testing that has already been completed, please contact our office at 905-885-0291 or info@phai.ca.
