Natural Background Radiation in Canada

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This map provides you with information on natural background radiation for various cities in Canada. Map locations are approximate. By clicking on an icon, natural background radiation values for the city will appear. The alternate text for this Google map is the list of addresses found below the map. [Download Natural Background Radiation in Canada - Annual Effective Dose Values for Selected Canadian Cities CSV]

Chart Legend

Blue represents - Cosmic radiation
Green represents - External terrestrial radiation
Yellow represents - Inhalation
Orange represents - Ingestion
Table: Natural Background Radiation in Canada - Annual Effective Dose Values for Selected Canadian Cities
Canadian City Cosmic Radiation (mSv/y) Footnote 1 External Terrestrial Radiation
(mSv/y)		 Inhalation (mSv/y) Footnote 3 Ingestion (mSv/y) Footnote 2 Total
(mSv/y)
0.5000.157 Footnote 50.926 Footnote 60.3061.89
0.4001.424 Footnote 40.926 Footnote 60.3063.05
0.4500.105 Footnote 50.926 Footnote 60.3061.79
0.4500.105 Footnote 50.3850.3061.25
0.4500.272 Footnote 51.3470.3062.4
0.4250.333 Footnote 52.4470.3063.51
0.4000.176 Footnote 43.2250.3064.11
0.3500.178 Footnote 40.7570.3061.59
0.3500.240 Footnote 40.926 Footnote 60.3061.82
0.4500.219 Footnote 60.926 Footnote 60.3061.9
0.3750.219 Footnote 50.6600.3061.56
0.3750.278 Footnote 40.6600.3061.62
0.3250.263 Footnote 50.926 Footnote 60.3061.82
0.3250.333 Footnote 51.5400.3062.5
0.3250.219 Footnote 50.926 Footnote 60.3061.78
0.3500.175 Footnote 50.7150.3061.55

Footnotes

1
Extrapolated from Gratsky et al., 2004.
2
Applied from global values presented in UNSCEAR 2008.
3
This value includes 222Rn in indoor air, 222Rn in the outdoor air and 220Rn (thoron). A small amount due to long-lived uranium and thorium series radionuclides present in dust particles is also included. (Gratsky et al., 2004).
4
External dose from potassium, uranium and thorium in the ground and building materials. Canadian average is 0.219 mSv/y. (Gratsky et al., 2004).
5
Extrapolated from the Geological Survey of Canada.
6
Average Canadian value used.
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