The Impact Of Uranium, By Martin K. Radon

Uranium, a very large natural metal which has been used for 60 years as a concentrated energy, was discovered by Martin K Laproth, German chemist, in 1789. Uranium was named after planet Uranus, which had been found eight years before. According to Lee Soo Ann (1968), uranium is generally known as ‘yellowcake’. About 6.6 billion years ago, uranium was created in the supernovae and provides heat for the earth (Wyoming Mining Association, 2000). Uranium can be found in soil, water, air and in resources that made from natural elements. Mining and uranium enrichment are proportional to many other metals (World Nuclear Association, 2016). Uranium can build nuclear power plant for the electricity. Energy for world electricity could be supplied by
The impact of uranium mining is not much different from other mining impacts. Although radon with uranium is destructive, however it is safe to protect workers and environment. Environmental Protection Agency and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission at U.S have found that mining operations pose a low risk to the community (Spencer and Loris, 2008). The International Atomic Energy Agency (cited in IAEA 2017) has created the safety protection in contradiction of the risks with radiation. There are also hazard control methods like ventilation; enclosed filtered cabins; personal respiratory protection to keep away from silica dust, more emphasis on air-conditioned cabins for diesel smoke and etc (Leigh,
Although there are a lot of safety equipment for mine, but still not safe. For example, Hayes, workers in uranium mines, has suffered from persistent skin problems. He falls into the uranium mill and trying to reached the safety line but he got grabbed nothing because the previous worker forgot to secure it (Scientific American, 2010). Uranium mining might cause health risk for people and might contaminate the surface water, groundwater and soil. As stated by International Atomic Energy Agency (2005), radiological risk in the mine can cause disease such as lung cancer and bone cancer. For example, in the article "The Dangers of Uranium" it is stated that, 70% of lung cancer deaths occur in non-smoker miners because of exposure from radon (cited from Martinez, 2015) and another example is according to the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (2011), many Native Americans have died from lung cancer as they work in uranium mining. Workers may be exposed to internal radiation from radioactive elements by consuming dust containing radioactive elements, such as eating food with dust-covered hands or by inhaling dust (JBC against Uranium, n.d). The other risk is uranium mining can affect the drinking water supply and the recreational use. As stated in Scientific American (2010), Evers said that nuclear power is not clean. It is devastating to the water, environment, and