Monthly Atmospheric Radioactivity Measurements From Canadian Pilot Network

Health Canada's pilot program provides monthly measurements of radioactivity in total atmospheric deposition, including precipitation, particulates, and aerosols. The dataset contains results for gross alpha, gross beta, tritium, and gamma-emitting radionuclides like beryllium-7 and lead-210. Data collection began in 2020 across the national Canadian Radiological Monitoring Network.

Use Cases

• Analyze temporal trends in gross_alpha and gross_beta activity to establish regional baseline radioactivity levels.
• Detect anomalous spikes in specific gamma_emitting_radionuclides like cesium-137 or iodine-131 to identify potential contamination events.
• Correlate tritium concentration measurements with precipitation data to study hydrological cycles.
• Map the spatial distribution of naturally occurring radionuclides like beryllium-7 and lead-210 across Canadian monitoring stations.
• Use reported uncertainty and minimum_detectable_concentration values to assess data reliability for statistical modeling.

Strengths

• Data originates from Health Canada's official national monitoring network, ensuring authoritative collection methods.
• Includes multiple radioactivity indicators: gross alpha, gross beta, tritium, and specific gamma-emitting radionuclides.
• Samples are collected monthly, enabling time-series analysis of deposition trends.

Limitations

• Dataset represents a pilot program phase; the temporal coverage is limited to data collected since 2020.
• Specific sample size (row count), geographic station count, and file size are not provided in the description.
• The presence of man-made radionuclides like cesium-137 is described as 'rare', indicating potential class imbalance for those features.

Provenance

Source

Health Canada | Santé Canada, via the Canadian Radiological Monitoring Network (CRMN).

Collection Method

Monthly samples collected from deposition samplers at network stations, analyzed via gas proportional counting, liquid scintillation counting, and gamma spectroscopy.

Time Range

Pilot program data starting from 2020 onward.

Freshness

Dataset metadata was last updated in April 2026, indicating active maintenance.

Geography

Canada, from stations within the national Canadian Radiological Monitoring Network.