On August 14, 2024, BWXT NEC conducted routine soil sampling for the presence of beryllium and uranium at several sites in Peterborough, including Prince of Wales Public School on Monaghan Road.

The soil samples were obtained and analyzed by an independent outside laboratory and the report concluded that, “based on the results of the annual 2024 surface soil sampling program, there is no evidence that beryllium or uranium used at the BWXT facility have impacted soils in the specified testing areas.” The report also stated, “the 2024 concentrations for beryllium and uranium are comparable to those measured from 2020 to 2023.” All results for both uranium and beryllium are well below the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment’s guidelines for the protection of environmental and human health.

The full soil sampling report is available on our website here.

BWXT’s facility in Peterborough assembles fuel bundles for CANDU® reactors using natural uranium dioxide pellets from BWXT’s Toronto facility, which are inserted into tubes creating the fuel bundle. Uranium is a naturally occurring, weakly radioactive element present at low levels in the environment and naturally, in soil and rocks, the water we drink and the air we breathe. Because uranium is a naturally-occurring, low-level radioactive material that exists virtually everywhere, it contributes to what is called “natural background radiation.”

Beryllium is a lightweight but strong metal found in the earth’s crust and can be found in everything from cell phones and airbag sensors to aircraft and pacemakers. Beryllium is used in small amounts at BWXT’s Peterborough operations to join components of the fuel bundle together. Its use is controlled by a regulated manufacturing program that protects the health and safety of employees, the public and the environment.

More information about BWXT’s environmental monitoring, including previous soil sampling campaign results, can be found here.

Please contact us at questions@bwxt.com or 1.855.696.9588 if you have any questions.