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.