O ntario

P ow e r

G e n e ration

Tritium is used as a "tracer" in biomedical research inthe study and diagnoses of heart disease, cancer and
AIDS. Because it emits beta radiation and has a favorable combination of chemical properties, tritium is apreferred isotope as a medical tracer for diagnostic
pharmaceuticals. As a tracer, tritium can be used tofollow a complex sequence of biochemical reactions,such as in the human body, to locate diseased cells andtissues. Small amounts of tritium are added to drugs
or other substances to allow researchers to "trace" orfollow their movement through a test subject, to learn
more about diseases, and to test and improve the
manufacture and efficacy of medicines.
Tritium is also being used in the development of new devices that provide power for many
years. Prototypes of long life batteries using tritium have been developed that can last for up
to 20 years. These devices have many applications in hard-to-service, long-life systems such as
medical implants (like pacemakers, cochlear implants and drug delivery systems); intelligencegathering sensors for safety systems (like structural sensors on bridges); climate monitoring
equipment including weather satellites, anti-tamper devices and memory back-up.
Putting our weight into research

Ontario Power Generation makes heavy water available for commercial use. It supplies the
majority of the world's non-nuclear heavy water demand to stable isotope manufacturers,
chemical companies and research facilities, among others.
Solvents created with heavy water are used in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) analyses
to help researchers determine the structure of complex organic compounds and protein structures. The study of protein structures is important in cancer research such as the discovery ofcancer biomarkers. NMR techniques are used in pharmacology to screen potential drug candidates. In addition, heavy water is used in the medical field to gain a better understanding of
human metabolism, obesity and in diabetes research.
In industrial applications, heavy water is used as a tracer in oil exploration to estimate potential
yield of an oil field. It is also used as a "custody tag" to trace the origin and ownership of liquids
such as gasoline and perfume.

Heavy water is used to produce a variety of NMR solvents and labeled compounds.
These products are widely used by scientists in agriculture, biology, chemistry,
environmental studies, drug development, medical and health studies.

How nuclear products
keep us healthy and safe

The SNO detector is located 2 kilometers
underground at the Inco Creighton Minenear Sudbury Ontario.

Other uses of tritium

Detecting ghosts from the heavens

Ontario Power Generation was a sponsor of a project
which is helping to unlock secrets of our universe. Locateddeep underground in the Canadian Shield of Northeastern
Ontario, the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory enabled aninternational team of scientists to obtain new information
about the tiny, ghost-like neutrino particles - elementarybuilding blocks of our universe - that are produced in huge
numbers in the core of the sun.

SNOLABAs one of the most sophisticated detectors in the world,
the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory allowed scientists to see
neutrinos through three separate reactions, two of themnever before observed. These neutrinos were detected astiny bursts of blue-violet light by 9,500 light sensors mounted in a geodesic sphere that surrounded a tank of 1,100
tonnes of heavy water.
SNOLAB, an additional underground science laboratory
constructed in 2003 will allow scientists to study dark matter and research a radioactive process called neutrino-lessdouble beta decay to better understand the development ofmatter in the universe.

Commercial Services
Ontario Power Generation Inc.
700 University Avenue

Safe and secure

Toronto, Ontario

Ontario Power Generation's overriding priority is always
safety. Nuclear safety, employee safety and environmental
safety are part of every operational and business decision
and a key factor in achieving world-class performance. It
is also a commitment we have made to our community,
which has given us the privilege to operate here. Ontario
Power Generation conducts the sale of isotope products
and services with the highest regard for employee andpublic safety.

M5G 1X6
Telephone: (416) 592-2555
Toll Free: 1-877-592-2555
Visit our Web site atwww.opg.com
You can also visit our Information
Centres located at the Pickeringand Darlington Nuclear
Generating Stations.

Design, print, distribution: OPG Office Services© 2009, Ontario Power Generation

O ntario

Millions of Ontarians benefit from electricity generated by Ontario PowerP ow e r

G e n e ration

Cobalt-60 is used effectively toeliminate harmful bacteria in many
food products and to sterilize
medical equipment.

Generation. Few people are aware that the company also brings benefits
to people in many countries around the world as a supplier of isotopes
such as heavy water, Cobalt-60 and tritium. These stable and radioactive

food preservation, luminescent lighting, and fusion research.

You may recall from your high school chemistry studies that every atom of every element ismade up of protons, neutrons and electrons. Isotopes are atoms of the same element thathave the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei, and therefore, different atomic weights.
If, by peering into an imaginary microscope, we could see a cluster of hydrogen atoms, we’d
notice that almost all hydrogen atoms consist of an electron orbiting a proton.
Of every million hydrogen atoms, 150 have a nucleus that contains a neutron as well as aproton. This isotope of hydrogen is called deuterium.
Isotopes have the same chemical properties because they have the same number of electrons.
Deuterium bonds with oxygen to form heavy water (D2O). Heavy water, or deuterium oxide,is 10 per cent heavier than regular water because of an extra neutron. Heavy water is used tocool the fuel in 1CANDU and in nuclear research/isotope reactors.
A third isotope of hydrogen is called tritium (T). Tritium is produced in nuclear reactors andis radioactive.
Radioactive Isotopes
electronelectronelectron
Neutron

NeutronProton

The nucleus ofordinary hydrogenis a proton

ProtonThe deuterium nucleus
has one neutron anda proton

1 CANDU (Canada Deuterium Uranium) is a registeredtrademark of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited.

NeutronProtonTritium has twoneutrons and a proton
in its nucleus

Radioactive isotopes have too many or too
few neutrons in their nucleus, which creates
excess energy. Release of this excess energy is
known as radiation, or radioactive decay, andpersists until the radioactive isotope becomes
non-radioactive. Tritium, for example, releases
beta radiation until it becomes helium, whichis stable and non-radioactive.
Note: All three isotopes of hydrogen have a
proton and an electron. Nuclei of deuterium(D) and tritium (T) also have neutrons.

P ow e r

G e n e ration

Gamma radiation is also being used in new
applications including the development of cancer
vaccines and new drugs, to tackle environmental pollutants and biohazards and to develop
advanced materials for emerging technologies likethe hydrogen economy.

Land-mine markers
help save lives andreduce injuries causedby landmines.

Lighting a new way with tritium

isotopes are key components in applications in medicine, sterilization,

Isotopes – what are they?

O ntario

Isotopes can be naturally-occurring or produced, stable or unstable. Deuterium is a stable isotope. Unstable isotopes such as Cobalt-60 and tritium undergo radioactive decay. During radioactive decay, energy is emitted and the element turns into a more stable form.
By harnessing the energy released by these isotopes, the medical and industrial worlds are able
to provide essential services such as cancer treatment, sterilization and self-powered luminescent emergency lighting.
Improving our health with Cobalt-60

Cobalt-60 is one of the radioisotopes whose energy adds to the well-being of millions of people.
Cobalt-60 is produced in Ontario Power Generation’s CANDU reactors by using adjuster rods that
contain Cobalt-59 inserts. Over time, some of the Cobalt-59 inserts absorb a neutron and change
at the atomic level to become Cobalt-60. About every 24 months, the Cobalt-60 adjuster rods
are removed, processed and safely loaded for shipment. Licensed end users include, scientists,
technicians, and academic researchers – for irradiation technology applications.
Cobalt-60 emits gamma radiation, making it an ideal isotope for use in a variety of medical
and industrial applications. One such application is sterilization with Cobalt-60 irradiation – a
Canadian technology used around the world to enhance the safety of perishable food and medical and consumer products. Favoured because of its efficiency and cost-effectiveness, Cobalt-60
can sterilize products after they have been packaged, thereby rendering them immediately safe
to use. From syringes, gloves and surgical instruments to cotton balls and contact lens solution,
Cobalt-60 irradiation ensures the safety of hundreds of products. Food irradiation using Cobalt-60
is increasingly viewed as the safest and most effective way to eliminate harmful insects and bacteria such as salmonella, E.coli and listeria from our food supply. One of the benefits of gamma
radiation is that it can kill bacteria and microorganisms without affecting the quality of the foods’
taste, colour, texture and nutritional value.

Tritium is a radioactive hydrogen isotope that has been a part of our environment for millionsof years. It is produced naturally by cosmic rays but is also a by-product of the daily operations of a CANDU nuclear reactor. When the deuterium in heavy water captures an additional
neutron from the immense number of particles passing among the fuel elements, it changes
to become tritium. Ontario Power Generation makes tritium commercially available for use in
the production of self-powered lights, tritiumlabeled chemicals for medical research, andTritium — The power source
research into future power sources.
behind emergency lighting;the quest for a new energy
source; and a valuable medical
research tool.

Minute amounts of tritium combined withphosphor create luminescence. This energyefficient light source does not require electricity and provides essential emergency lighting
particularly for areas where electrical sparks can be dangerous and where minimal or no electrical wiring exists. Tritium lights are used in the manufacture of safety and security products
like land-mine markers and emergency exit signs in commercial buildings and airplanes.
Power for future generations

Nuclear fusion has been hailed as the energy source ofthe future, the successor to coal, oil, and gas as underground reserves of these fuels are depleted. Fusion power
offers the potential of an almost limitless source of clean
energy for future generations. It is called 'fusion' because
the nuclei of lightweight atoms, such as hydrogen, fuse to
make heavier atoms while releasing tremendous amountsof energy. The process is similar to that which powers the
sun and other stars. Ontario Power Generation has supplied tritium to fusion research projects around the world.

The interior of the
Joint European
Torus, a major
nuclear fusion
experiment.

Recently work has started on International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), theworld's largest fusion research reactor being built by an international team of researchers,
governments and businesses in Cadarache, France. ITER hopes to unlock the secrets of fusion
and harness fusion power to generate clean and abundant energy. The ITER research projectwill require tritium and Ontario Power Generation hopes to be a potential supplier.

O ntario

Millions of Ontarians benefit from electricity generated by Ontario PowerP ow e r

G e n e ration

Cobalt-60 is used effectively toeliminate harmful bacteria in many
food products and to sterilize
medical equipment.

Generation. Few people are aware that the company also brings benefits
to people in many countries around the world as a supplier of isotopes
such as heavy water, Cobalt-60 and tritium. These stable and radioactive

food preservation, luminescent lighting, and fusion research.

You may recall from your high school chemistry studies that every atom of every element ismade up of protons, neutrons and electrons. Isotopes are atoms of the same element thathave the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei, and therefore, different atomic weights.
If, by peering into an imaginary microscope, we could see a cluster of hydrogen atoms, we’d
notice that almost all hydrogen atoms consist of an electron orbiting a proton.
Of every million hydrogen atoms, 150 have a nucleus that contains a neutron as well as aproton. This isotope of hydrogen is called deuterium.
Isotopes have the same chemical properties because they have the same number of electrons.
Deuterium bonds with oxygen to form heavy water (D2O). Heavy water, or deuterium oxide,is 10 per cent heavier than regular water because of an extra neutron. Heavy water is used tocool the fuel in 1CANDU and in nuclear research/isotope reactors.
A third isotope of hydrogen is called tritium (T). Tritium is produced in nuclear reactors andis radioactive.
Radioactive Isotopes
electronelectronelectron
Neutron

NeutronProton

The nucleus ofordinary hydrogenis a proton

ProtonThe deuterium nucleus
has one neutron anda proton

1 CANDU (Canada Deuterium Uranium) is a registeredtrademark of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited.

NeutronProtonTritium has twoneutrons and a proton
in its nucleus

Radioactive isotopes have too many or too
few neutrons in their nucleus, which creates
excess energy. Release of this excess energy is
known as radiation, or radioactive decay, andpersists until the radioactive isotope becomes
non-radioactive. Tritium, for example, releases
beta radiation until it becomes helium, whichis stable and non-radioactive.
Note: All three isotopes of hydrogen have a
proton and an electron. Nuclei of deuterium(D) and tritium (T) also have neutrons.

P ow e r

G e n e ration

Gamma radiation is also being used in new
applications including the development of cancer
vaccines and new drugs, to tackle environmental pollutants and biohazards and to develop
advanced materials for emerging technologies likethe hydrogen economy.

Land-mine markers
help save lives andreduce injuries causedby landmines.

Lighting a new way with tritium

isotopes are key components in applications in medicine, sterilization,

Isotopes – what are they?

O ntario

Isotopes can be naturally-occurring or produced, stable or unstable. Deuterium is a stable isotope. Unstable isotopes such as Cobalt-60 and tritium undergo radioactive decay. During radioactive decay, energy is emitted and the element turns into a more stable form.
By harnessing the energy released by these isotopes, the medical and industrial worlds are able
to provide essential services such as cancer treatment, sterilization and self-powered luminescent emergency lighting.
Improving our health with Cobalt-60

Cobalt-60 is one of the radioisotopes whose energy adds to the well-being of millions of people.
Cobalt-60 is produced in Ontario Power Generation’s CANDU reactors by using adjuster rods that
contain Cobalt-59 inserts. Over time, some of the Cobalt-59 inserts absorb a neutron and change
at the atomic level to become Cobalt-60. About every 24 months, the Cobalt-60 adjuster rods
are removed, processed and safely loaded for shipment. Licensed end users include, scientists,
technicians, and academic researchers – for irradiation technology applications.
Cobalt-60 emits gamma radiation, making it an ideal isotope for use in a variety of medical
and industrial applications. One such application is sterilization with Cobalt-60 irradiation – a
Canadian technology used around the world to enhance the safety of perishable food and medical and consumer products. Favoured because of its efficiency and cost-effectiveness, Cobalt-60
can sterilize products after they have been packaged, thereby rendering them immediately safe
to use. From syringes, gloves and surgical instruments to cotton balls and contact lens solution,
Cobalt-60 irradiation ensures the safety of hundreds of products. Food irradiation using Cobalt-60
is increasingly viewed as the safest and most effective way to eliminate harmful insects and bacteria such as salmonella, E.coli and listeria from our food supply. One of the benefits of gamma
radiation is that it can kill bacteria and microorganisms without affecting the quality of the foods’
taste, colour, texture and nutritional value.

Tritium is a radioactive hydrogen isotope that has been a part of our environment for millionsof years. It is produced naturally by cosmic rays but is also a by-product of the daily operations of a CANDU nuclear reactor. When the deuterium in heavy water captures an additional
neutron from the immense number of particles passing among the fuel elements, it changes
to become tritium. Ontario Power Generation makes tritium commercially available for use in
the production of self-powered lights, tritiumlabeled chemicals for medical research, andTritium — The power source
research into future power sources.
behind emergency lighting;the quest for a new energy
source; and a valuable medical
research tool.

Minute amounts of tritium combined withphosphor create luminescence. This energyefficient light source does not require electricity and provides essential emergency lighting
particularly for areas where electrical sparks can be dangerous and where minimal or no electrical wiring exists. Tritium lights are used in the manufacture of safety and security products
like land-mine markers and emergency exit signs in commercial buildings and airplanes.
Power for future generations

Nuclear fusion has been hailed as the energy source ofthe future, the successor to coal, oil, and gas as underground reserves of these fuels are depleted. Fusion power
offers the potential of an almost limitless source of clean
energy for future generations. It is called 'fusion' because
the nuclei of lightweight atoms, such as hydrogen, fuse to
make heavier atoms while releasing tremendous amountsof energy. The process is similar to that which powers the
sun and other stars. Ontario Power Generation has supplied tritium to fusion research projects around the world.

The interior of the
Joint European
Torus, a major
nuclear fusion
experiment.

Recently work has started on International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), theworld's largest fusion research reactor being built by an international team of researchers,
governments and businesses in Cadarache, France. ITER hopes to unlock the secrets of fusion
and harness fusion power to generate clean and abundant energy. The ITER research projectwill require tritium and Ontario Power Generation hopes to be a potential supplier.

O ntario

P ow e r

G e n e ration

Tritium is used as a "tracer" in biomedical research inthe study and diagnoses of heart disease, cancer and
AIDS. Because it emits beta radiation and has a favorable combination of chemical properties, tritium is apreferred isotope as a medical tracer for diagnostic
pharmaceuticals. As a tracer, tritium can be used tofollow a complex sequence of biochemical reactions,such as in the human body, to locate diseased cells andtissues. Small amounts of tritium are added to drugs
or other substances to allow researchers to "trace" orfollow their movement through a test subject, to learn
more about diseases, and to test and improve the
manufacture and efficacy of medicines.
Tritium is also being used in the development of new devices that provide power for many
years. Prototypes of long life batteries using tritium have been developed that can last for up
to 20 years. These devices have many applications in hard-to-service, long-life systems such as
medical implants (like pacemakers, cochlear implants and drug delivery systems); intelligencegathering sensors for safety systems (like structural sensors on bridges); climate monitoring
equipment including weather satellites, anti-tamper devices and memory back-up.
Putting our weight into research

Ontario Power Generation makes heavy water available for commercial use. It supplies the
majority of the world's non-nuclear heavy water demand to stable isotope manufacturers,
chemical companies and research facilities, among others.
Solvents created with heavy water are used in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) analyses
to help researchers determine the structure of complex organic compounds and protein structures. The study of protein structures is important in cancer research such as the discovery ofcancer biomarkers. NMR techniques are used in pharmacology to screen potential drug candidates. In addition, heavy water is used in the medical field to gain a better understanding of
human metabolism, obesity and in diabetes research.
In industrial applications, heavy water is used as a tracer in oil exploration to estimate potential
yield of an oil field. It is also used as a "custody tag" to trace the origin and ownership of liquids
such as gasoline and perfume.

Heavy water is used to produce a variety of NMR solvents and labeled compounds.
These products are widely used by scientists in agriculture, biology, chemistry,
environmental studies, drug development, medical and health studies.

How nuclear products
keep us healthy and safe

The SNO detector is located 2 kilometers
underground at the Inco Creighton Minenear Sudbury Ontario.

Other uses of tritium

Detecting ghosts from the heavens

Ontario Power Generation was a sponsor of a project
which is helping to unlock secrets of our universe. Locateddeep underground in the Canadian Shield of Northeastern
Ontario, the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory enabled aninternational team of scientists to obtain new information
about the tiny, ghost-like neutrino particles - elementarybuilding blocks of our universe - that are produced in huge
numbers in the core of the sun.

SNOLABAs one of the most sophisticated detectors in the world,
the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory allowed scientists to see
neutrinos through three separate reactions, two of themnever before observed. These neutrinos were detected astiny bursts of blue-violet light by 9,500 light sensors mounted in a geodesic sphere that surrounded a tank of 1,100
tonnes of heavy water.
SNOLAB, an additional underground science laboratory
constructed in 2003 will allow scientists to study dark matter and research a radioactive process called neutrino-lessdouble beta decay to better understand the development ofmatter in the universe.

Commercial Services
Ontario Power Generation Inc.
700 University Avenue

Safe and secure

Toronto, Ontario

Ontario Power Generation's overriding priority is always
safety. Nuclear safety, employee safety and environmental
safety are part of every operational and business decision
and a key factor in achieving world-class performance. It
is also a commitment we have made to our community,
which has given us the privilege to operate here. Ontario
Power Generation conducts the sale of isotope products
and services with the highest regard for employee andpublic safety.

M5G 1X6
Telephone: (416) 592-2555
Toll Free: 1-877-592-2555
Visit our Web site atwww.opg.com
You can also visit our Information
Centres located at the Pickeringand Darlington Nuclear
Generating Stations.

Design, print, distribution: OPG Office Services© 2009, Ontario Power Generation

O ntario

Millions of Ontarians benefit from electricity generated by Ontario PowerP ow e r

G e n e ration

Cobalt-60 is used effectively toeliminate harmful bacteria in many
food products and to sterilize
medical equipment.

Generation. Few people are aware that the company also brings benefits
to people in many countries around the world as a supplier of isotopes
such as heavy water, Cobalt-60 and tritium. These stable and radioactive

food preservation, luminescent lighting, and fusion research.

You may recall from your high school chemistry studies that every atom of every element ismade up of protons, neutrons and electrons. Isotopes are atoms of the same element thathave the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei, and therefore, different atomic weights.
If, by peering into an imaginary microscope, we could see a cluster of hydrogen atoms, we’d
notice that almost all hydrogen atoms consist of an electron orbiting a proton.
Of every million hydrogen atoms, 150 have a nucleus that contains a neutron as well as aproton. This isotope of hydrogen is called deuterium.
Isotopes have the same chemical properties because they have the same number of electrons.
Deuterium bonds with oxygen to form heavy water (D2O). Heavy water, or deuterium oxide,is 10 per cent heavier than regular water because of an extra neutron. Heavy water is used tocool the fuel in 1CANDU and in nuclear research/isotope reactors.
A third isotope of hydrogen is called tritium (T). Tritium is produced in nuclear reactors andis radioactive.
Radioactive Isotopes
electronelectronelectron
Neutron

NeutronProton

The nucleus ofordinary hydrogenis a proton

ProtonThe deuterium nucleus
has one neutron anda proton

1 CANDU (Canada Deuterium Uranium) is a registeredtrademark of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited.

NeutronProtonTritium has twoneutrons and a proton
in its nucleus

Radioactive isotopes have too many or too
few neutrons in their nucleus, which creates
excess energy. Release of this excess energy is
known as radiation, or radioactive decay, andpersists until the radioactive isotope becomes
non-radioactive. Tritium, for example, releases
beta radiation until it becomes helium, whichis stable and non-radioactive.
Note: All three isotopes of hydrogen have a
proton and an electron. Nuclei of deuterium(D) and tritium (T) also have neutrons.

P ow e r

G e n e ration

Gamma radiation is also being used in new
applications including the development of cancer
vaccines and new drugs, to tackle environmental pollutants and biohazards and to develop
advanced materials for emerging technologies likethe hydrogen economy.

Land-mine markers
help save lives andreduce injuries causedby landmines.

Lighting a new way with tritium

isotopes are key components in applications in medicine, sterilization,

Isotopes – what are they?

O ntario

Isotopes can be naturally-occurring or produced, stable or unstable. Deuterium is a stable isotope. Unstable isotopes such as Cobalt-60 and tritium undergo radioactive decay. During radioactive decay, energy is emitted and the element turns into a more stable form.
By harnessing the energy released by these isotopes, the medical and industrial worlds are able
to provide essential services such as cancer treatment, sterilization and self-powered luminescent emergency lighting.
Improving our health with Cobalt-60

Cobalt-60 is one of the radioisotopes whose energy adds to the well-being of millions of people.
Cobalt-60 is produced in Ontario Power Generation’s CANDU reactors by using adjuster rods that
contain Cobalt-59 inserts. Over time, some of the Cobalt-59 inserts absorb a neutron and change
at the atomic level to become Cobalt-60. About every 24 months, the Cobalt-60 adjuster rods
are removed, processed and safely loaded for shipment. Licensed end users include, scientists,
technicians, and academic researchers – for irradiation technology applications.
Cobalt-60 emits gamma radiation, making it an ideal isotope for use in a variety of medical
and industrial applications. One such application is sterilization with Cobalt-60 irradiation – a
Canadian technology used around the world to enhance the safety of perishable food and medical and consumer products. Favoured because of its efficiency and cost-effectiveness, Cobalt-60
can sterilize products after they have been packaged, thereby rendering them immediately safe
to use. From syringes, gloves and surgical instruments to cotton balls and contact lens solution,
Cobalt-60 irradiation ensures the safety of hundreds of products. Food irradiation using Cobalt-60
is increasingly viewed as the safest and most effective way to eliminate harmful insects and bacteria such as salmonella, E.coli and listeria from our food supply. One of the benefits of gamma
radiation is that it can kill bacteria and microorganisms without affecting the quality of the foods’
taste, colour, texture and nutritional value.

Tritium is a radioactive hydrogen isotope that has been a part of our environment for millionsof years. It is produced naturally by cosmic rays but is also a by-product of the daily operations of a CANDU nuclear reactor. When the deuterium in heavy water captures an additional
neutron from the immense number of particles passing among the fuel elements, it changes
to become tritium. Ontario Power Generation makes tritium commercially available for use in
the production of self-powered lights, tritiumlabeled chemicals for medical research, andTritium — The power source
research into future power sources.
behind emergency lighting;the quest for a new energy
source; and a valuable medical
research tool.

Minute amounts of tritium combined withphosphor create luminescence. This energyefficient light source does not require electricity and provides essential emergency lighting
particularly for areas where electrical sparks can be dangerous and where minimal or no electrical wiring exists. Tritium lights are used in the manufacture of safety and security products
like land-mine markers and emergency exit signs in commercial buildings and airplanes.
Power for future generations

Nuclear fusion has been hailed as the energy source ofthe future, the successor to coal, oil, and gas as underground reserves of these fuels are depleted. Fusion power
offers the potential of an almost limitless source of clean
energy for future generations. It is called 'fusion' because
the nuclei of lightweight atoms, such as hydrogen, fuse to
make heavier atoms while releasing tremendous amountsof energy. The process is similar to that which powers the
sun and other stars. Ontario Power Generation has supplied tritium to fusion research projects around the world.

The interior of the
Joint European
Torus, a major
nuclear fusion
experiment.

Recently work has started on International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), theworld's largest fusion research reactor being built by an international team of researchers,
governments and businesses in Cadarache, France. ITER hopes to unlock the secrets of fusion
and harness fusion power to generate clean and abundant energy. The ITER research projectwill require tritium and Ontario Power Generation hopes to be a potential supplier.

O ntario

P ow e r

G e n e ration

Tritium is used as a "tracer" in biomedical research inthe study and diagnoses of heart disease, cancer and
AIDS. Because it emits beta radiation and has a favorable combination of chemical properties, tritium is apreferred isotope as a medical tracer for diagnostic
pharmaceuticals. As a tracer, tritium can be used tofollow a complex sequence of biochemical reactions,such as in the human body, to locate diseased cells andtissues. Small amounts of tritium are added to drugs
or other substances to allow researchers to "trace" orfollow their movement through a test subject, to learn
more about diseases, and to test and improve the
manufacture and efficacy of medicines.
Tritium is also being used in the development of new devices that provide power for many
years. Prototypes of long life batteries using tritium have been developed that can last for up
to 20 years. These devices have many applications in hard-to-service, long-life systems such as
medical implants (like pacemakers, cochlear implants and drug delivery systems); intelligencegathering sensors for safety systems (like structural sensors on bridges); climate monitoring
equipment including weather satellites, anti-tamper devices and memory back-up.
Putting our weight into research

Ontario Power Generation makes heavy water available for commercial use. It supplies the
majority of the world's non-nuclear heavy water demand to stable isotope manufacturers,
chemical companies and research facilities, among others.
Solvents created with heavy water are used in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) analyses
to help researchers determine the structure of complex organic compounds and protein structures. The study of protein structures is important in cancer research such as the discovery ofcancer biomarkers. NMR techniques are used in pharmacology to screen potential drug candidates. In addition, heavy water is used in the medical field to gain a better understanding of
human metabolism, obesity and in diabetes research.
In industrial applications, heavy water is used as a tracer in oil exploration to estimate potential
yield of an oil field. It is also used as a "custody tag" to trace the origin and ownership of liquids
such as gasoline and perfume.

Heavy water is used to produce a variety of NMR solvents and labeled compounds.
These products are widely used by scientists in agriculture, biology, chemistry,
environmental studies, drug development, medical and health studies.

How nuclear products
keep us healthy and safe

The SNO detector is located 2 kilometers
underground at the Inco Creighton Minenear Sudbury Ontario.

Other uses of tritium

Detecting ghosts from the heavens

Ontario Power Generation was a sponsor of a project
which is helping to unlock secrets of our universe. Locateddeep underground in the Canadian Shield of Northeastern
Ontario, the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory enabled aninternational team of scientists to obtain new information
about the tiny, ghost-like neutrino particles - elementarybuilding blocks of our universe - that are produced in huge
numbers in the core of the sun.

SNOLABAs one of the most sophisticated detectors in the world,
the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory allowed scientists to see
neutrinos through three separate reactions, two of themnever before observed. These neutrinos were detected astiny bursts of blue-violet light by 9,500 light sensors mounted in a geodesic sphere that surrounded a tank of 1,100
tonnes of heavy water.
SNOLAB, an additional underground science laboratory
constructed in 2003 will allow scientists to study dark matter and research a radioactive process called neutrino-lessdouble beta decay to better understand the development ofmatter in the universe.

Commercial Services
Ontario Power Generation Inc.
700 University Avenue

Safe and secure

Toronto, Ontario

Ontario Power Generation's overriding priority is always
safety. Nuclear safety, employee safety and environmental
safety are part of every operational and business decision
and a key factor in achieving world-class performance. It
is also a commitment we have made to our community,
which has given us the privilege to operate here. Ontario
Power Generation conducts the sale of isotope products
and services with the highest regard for employee andpublic safety.

M5G 1X6
Telephone: (416) 592-2555
Toll Free: 1-877-592-2555
Visit our Web site atwww.opg.com
You can also visit our Information
Centres located at the Pickeringand Darlington Nuclear
Generating Stations.

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