The Canadian government is using Ottawa's international airport to test a new system designed to sense so-called 'dirty bombs', it is reported Wednesday.

According to a statement on a government website, the projectisbeing overseen by the Chemical, Biological, Radio logical and Nuclear Research and Technology Initiative (CRTI).

The project will implement an operational radiological security system at the Ottawa International Airport which will provide a model transferable for the protection of other airports in the national aviation system.

By monitoring radiation levels in the air, the system should detect whether airline passengers are carrying, or have been in recent contact with radioactive materials.

According to security analysts, the devices are aimed at stemming fears of a crude nuclear device exploding over the airport or a crowded city center.