Ensuring uranium workers are safe and protected at their jobs sites is the basis behind a new Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission study.

The Canadian Uranium Workers Study aims to measure how exposure to radiation, especially radon, affects a uranium workers likelihood of getting lung cancer, and any other long term health effects.

Dr. Rachel Lane, Radiation and Health Sciences Specialist with the CNSC says the Canadian Uranium Workers Study includes about 80,000 current Canadian workers. She says predominantly these workers are now in Northern Saskatchewan and the Athabasca Basin. Lane explains ongoing studies of these workers will ensure that they continue to be protected. The study she says will also add to the scientific knowledge of the relationship between radiation and health outcomes.

The study will follow up on workers’ cause of death from 1950 to present and on their cancer data from 1970’s onwards. Lane says the results of past studies led to a lot of information regarding radon, which resulted in measures to protect workers from radon exposure.

Lane explains data collection for their current study began in 2019 and they hope to complete it by 2023.

The study is a collaboration between the CNSC, the Saskatchewan Government, various uranium mining companies and the University of Saskatchewan. Lane says while a lot of research has been done in the past and they have confidence that workers are well protected , there is a need for more research on low radon exposure and long term worker health.