Uranium Mining – The Front End of the Nuclear Fuel Chain

Uranium Mining – The Front End of the Nuclear Fuel Chain

Miles Goldstick (milesg@nonuclear.se), 6 December 2011

Prepared for the International Conference Nuclear Power – Challenges for the Environment, Health, Economy and Legislation Vilnius, 6-8 December 2011

Contents The Nuclear Fuel Chain Uranium Exploration Radioactivity Cancer Among Uranium Miners Large Volume of Wastes Contamination of the Surrounding Environment For More Information

The Nuclear Fuel Chain

Uranium Exploration

Uranium Exploration

Uranium-238 Decay Series Decay Product

Symbol

Element

Main Radiation

Physical Half-Life

U-238

Uranium-238

alpha

4,460,000,000 years

1

Th-234

Thorium-234

beta

24.1 days

2

Pa-234

Protactinium-234

beta

1.17 minutes

3

U-234

Uranium-234

alpha

247,000 years

4

Th-230

Thorium-230

alpha

80,000 years

5

Ra-226

Radium-226

alpha

1,602 years

6

Rn-222

Radon-222

alpha

3.82 days

7

Po-218

Polonium-218

alpha

3.05 minutes

8

Pb-214

Lead-214

beta

27 minutes

9

Bi-214

Bismuth-214

beta

19.7 minutes

10

Po-214

Polonium-214

alpha

1 microsecond

11

Pb-210

Lead-210

beta

22.3 years

12

Bi-210

Bismuth-210

beta

5.01 days

13

Po-210

Polonium-210

alpha

138.4 days

14

Pb-206

Lead-206

stable

stable

(Red = radon daughters)

Uranium miners can die of cancer and contract serious lung diseases as a direct result of working in uranium mines.

Source: www.etu.asn.au/newsandevents/etunews_archive.html (2011-12-02)

US Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA)

RECA was adopted by the US Congress in 1990. In 2000 it was amended in to include uranium mill and ore workers.

Source: www.justice.gov/civil/common/reca.html (2011-12-02)

Source: www.justice.gov/civil/common/reca.html (2011-12-02)

Billboard along the highway outside Grants, New Mexico, USA, Sept. 2011.

Billboard along the highway outside Grants, New Mexico, USA, Sept. 2011.

Billboard along the highway outside Grants, New Mexico, USA, Sept. 2011.

Uranium mining rapidly produces large volumes of liquid and solid waste, which remain hazardous forever.

Rabbit Lake open pit uranium mine and mill, Northern Saskatchewan, Canada.

An admirable wonder of engineering achievement, or a despicable method of destruction and source of contamination?

Waste outlet pipe at the Beaverlodge uranium mill, Northern Saskatchewan, Canada.

Uranium mining has a catastrophic effect on the immediate surrounding environment and contaminates the downstream area.

1997 Water Quality at Sample Point 2.3.3 (final point of control) and Health Canada's Drinking Water Quality Limits Â

Health Canada (mg/L)*

Sample Point 2.3.3 (mg/L)**

Sample Point 2.3.3 Maximum (mg/L)**

Arsenic

0.025 (interim MAC)

0.310 (mean March 1997)

0.410

Lead

0.01 (MAC)

Â

0.032

Total Uranium

0.1 (ADI)

1.721 (mean June 1997)

2.950

MAC = maximum accepted concentration ADI = acceptable daily intake * Health Canada. 1996. Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality ** Mean March and June values from Rabbit Lake Operation: 1997 Environmental Annual Report, Table 2.1.1; maximum values from Rabbit Lake Operation: 1997 Annual Report, Operating section, Table 7.1.1.

Lead Amount dangerous to aquatic life = 30 ppb = 0.03 mg/L. Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA).

Note: "mean" = half above and half below!

Radioactivity released from uranium mines accumulates in plants and animals downstream to levels thousands of times the surrounding water concentration.

This contamination can eventually find its way to people.

The longnose sucker (Catostomus catostomus) above was caught in the summer of 1982 downstream from the Beaverlodge mine at Uranium City. The fish is totally blind. The eyes have no pupils at all. The mouth of the sucker is especially adapted for eating off the bottom, where it spends most of its time. Since radioactive particles are heavier than water they quickly settle out and accumulate in the bottom sediment of streams and lakes. Thus, bottom feeding fish such as suckers suffer more from the effects of radiation than other species.

Periods of Uranium Mine Management #

Time Period

Characterised By

Actions

1

pre-early 1960s

lack of awareness and concern

direct dumping, no worker protection, no public involvement

2

early 1960s – early 1970s

concern

regulation, monitoring, EIAs, some measures to limit the spread of contamination (e.g. dams and other retention barriers)

3

early 1970s – mid-1980s

intolerance

more measures to limit the spread of contamination (lined settling ponds and dust filters), public hearings and government commissions, some new projects and expansion not given government approval

4

1980s -->

advanced intolerance

improvements to settling ponds and filter systems, more new projects and expansion not given government approval, some closures

5

???

sustainability

closure of all mines and reclamation

Some Problems and Hazards of Uranium Mining · Uranium mining is taking place in disregard of native land claims and aboriginal rights. · Uranium is used to make nuclear weapons and is turned into the highly toxic plutonium in nuclear reactors.

· Uranium miners can die of cancer and contract serious lung diseases as a direct result of working in uranium mines.

· Uranium mining rapidly produces large volumes of liquid and solid waste, which remain hazardous forever.

· Uranium mining has a catastrophic effect on the immediate surrounding environment and contaminates the downstream area.

· Radioactivity released from uranium mines accumulates in plants and animals downstream to levels thousands of times the surrounding water concentration. This contamination can eventually find its way to people.

For More Information World Information Service on Energy (WISE) Uranium Project: www.wise-uranium.org Post ’71 Uranium Exposure: www.post71exposure.org www.nonuclear.se: environmental views on energy

A road sign in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada.