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Environmental and Health Impacts of Uranium Mining

excavated top soil overburden that contains only traces of ore weakly uranium-enriched waste rock subgrade oresEnvironmental impacts2

typically contain radionuclides of radium, uranium, and thorium.increases radium levels in the airresult in rainwater, reservoirs, lakes and groundwater having higher radium content.

Environmental impacts3

Uranium mining results in higher levels of radium in water near uranium mines.Uranium mining results in higher levels of radium in water near uranium mines. Plants then absorb this radium from the water and the soil. Animals that eat these plants will then accumulate radium. Finally, radium may then concentrate in fish and other aquatic organisms and bio magnify up the food chain.

4Plants then absorb this radium from the water and the soil.

Animals that eat these plants will then accumulate radium.Uranium mining results in higher levels of radium in water near uranium mines. Plants then absorb this radium from the water and the soil. Animals that eat these plants will then accumulate radium. Finally, radium may then concentrate in fish and other aquatic organisms and bio magnify up the food chain.

5Finally, radium may then concentrate in fish and other aquatic organisms and bio magnify up the food chain.

Bio magnification: "Biomagnification is the sequence of processes in an ecosystem by which higher concentrations of a particular chemical, such as the pesticide DDT, are reached in organisms higher up the food chain, generally through a series of prey-predator relationships." - Oxford University, 2008

A hypothetical example of the biomagnification of mercury in water up through the food chain and into a wading bird's eggs.Uranium mining results in higher levels of radium in water near uranium mines. Plants then absorb this radium from the water and the soil. Animals that eat these plants will then accumulate radium. Finally, radium may then concentrate in fish and other aquatic organisms and bio magnify up the food chain.

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Health ImpactsMiners that work in conventional uranium mines are most at risk as they are exposed to fine particles of uranium and radon, which they breathe in. Inhalation causes cancer particularly in the lungs. The Whole population in the area surrounding the mine is endangered and could be affected by radioactive substances through respiration and digestion via the food chain. This can cause Birth defects due to mutation in chromosomes due to radium, especially in high concentration.

General health impacts that can be caused are:Lower testosterone levelsSkin cancerBronchitisEmphysemaLung cancerLeukaemia (with an increased risk in children)Kidney cancerChromosomal abnormalityBone cancer