Navajo People : Health Effects Of Uranium Mining

Uranium is a naturally occuring chemical element that can be mined from ore in many parts of the Southwestern United States where

Mind, body and spirit are the foundation of the Navajo community. The Navajo culture is known to be very primitive and reserved. This could cause some complications in the health care field. Their basic lifestyle may lead to several health complications, belief in prayer and evil spirits is prominent, they believe that the role of a physician is to be a partner in their healing, there are several nursing practices that need to be considered when caring for a Navajo patient, and as a nurse it is important to treat these people with respect even if their ways may seems unorthodox.

These were all side effects of spending twelve to sixteen hours in a coal mine. These diseases were not easily treatable at the time which led to some spreading of disease like cholera. Nowadays, scientists are able to treat diseases and sicknesses such as the ones listed above.

The Navajo have endured environmental injustice since 1944 when uranium, was mined on their land. Even though it brought them mining jobs there were negative effects on the Navajo Nation. Uranium is a naturally occurring radioactive metal that may cause negative health effects. The radioactive materials caused lung cancer or various forms of fibrosis. These uranium mines affected not only the minors but

Miners were paid more than factory workers, but that was because conditions in the mines were even crueler. Mines were dark, dirty and polluted with coal dust. Explosions, flooding and collapsing tunnels were just some of the dangerous incidents the workers had to be aware of. Women usually did not even wear any clothes while working in the mines. Most women only had one set of clothes and could not afford for them to get caught in a machine, destroyed or dirty. Further, mines were extremely hot, so wearing clothes made it even hotter, especially with the amount of sweat and body heat in the mine. Both women and children went up and down ladders multiple times a day with heavy loads of coal. For children, work in the mines was very tough; as they had to haul coal back and forth in carts in the

A documentary called "From the Ashes" speaks about the employees, and communities that are supported by coal mines. In the documentary the director of Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign, Mary Anne Hitt, goes on to describe a "life and death struggle" when mine layoffs occur. This means that the employees will lose their pensions, healthcare, and basically their livelihood. It was believed that the increase of miner layoffs was due to environmental regulations, but that was proven incorrect by the US Energy and Information Administration. One of the leading causes is the increased use of natural gases, and a statistical analysis over a 6 year time period proves that when natural gas usage increases, then coal usage

In the 1500’s Navajo people began creating their tribe. The Navajo indians call themselves “Dine”, which translates to “The People”. Navajo represent the largest of all Indian nations in The United States. The Navajos have lived in North America, Alaska, and Canada. At present they have the largest reservations in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. This tribe happens to be the largest tribe in the United States today.

Anthracite coal mining consisted of differing levels of skill and precision that could be lucrative depending upon the miner’s luck. A coal miner would be lucky to find steady employment, or to even survive to the day’s end. The procedures involved in preparing the coal from the mines to the shipping was filled with dangers that led the “industry” as “one of the world’s most hazardous.” Mine owners to maintain “overhead costs” and keep mine workers in the industry, would tactfully engage in underemployment. This left workers in state of constant need for more work, or higher wages to offset working part-time. These Anthracite miners were largely paid more than the average miner, but

Going back as early as 1100, the Navajo culture is one of the more fascinating tribes in North America. Although their culture did not appear until around this time, their peoples have been around since 12,000 B.C, maybe even earlier. The Navajos originated around the “Four Corners” area, in south western Colorado and south eastern Utah. This group was eventually, and forcefully removed from their land, and mainly settled in the area of northern New Mexico and Arizona, expanding their territory although they would continue to feud with settlers that would take their land, and surroundings.

The families that live near the mine also face being diagnosed with dangerous side effects. Since the ground becomes polluted with the chemicals, most homes in the surrounding area don’t have running water because the aquifers are polluted by said chemicals that originate from the mine. And the air becomes toxic also, toxic levels of arsenic, fluorine, mercury, and selenium is emitted by coal fires, entering the air and the food chain of those living nearby. These pollutants affect the water also, making it dangerous to any living life form. It causes deformities and creates birth defects if ingested into the body (Breitenender 2). And to an extent, causes death if the water is drunk regularly. It can go unnoticed also if people don’t check their water. And if a person is unfortunate enough to live near these areas, then he likely has no running water due to the pollution of his local aquifer. People are deprived of a vital source to live and they travel far to get water. And these areas are arid which means water is a necessary

Imagine living in a house called Hogan. It’s a house that the Navajo tribe lived in its quite fascinating. The Hogan houses were not that difficult to make all that was needed to make it were a few poles put together then on the surface it would be covered with branches, leaves, and mud. On the other hand, not everyone back then lived in Hogans like the Spanish colonies lived in actual houses from what we see today, but much smaller it had its own style. Back then or long ago not everything or everyone was similar it was quite different. There’s many differences between tribes and colonies like the example above the Spanish Colonies are very different then the Navajo tribe. The Spanish colonies are different than the Navajo tribe because the

This paper will review past practices and policies relating to mountaintop coal mining, evaluate and analyze current research on the impact of coal mining on human health, and provide recommendations for further research guided by logic and in agreement with biblical truth.

Sadly, many men have lost their jobs and become miners. Mining is a job with a steady income; however, it brings home lung diseases and medical bills. Mining used to be this great thing everybody wanted as a job down in Appalachia. Mining effects are much greater than any other job. “Estimates suggest such accidents kill about 12,000 people a year” (“The Dangers of Mining”). In Inez, Kentucky, with a population of only 750, 6% is jobless. More jobs in the mines are becoming more of a hassle, due to the government worrying about working conditions. Siliceous, Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis (CWP), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are all side effects of coal mining and big concerns to higher officials. ("Mining Impacts"). The median household in Appalachia central is 51% lower than national average, and it is lowering by the months. The environment surrounding these counties is either polluted with smoke from the mines or has litter everywhere. Polluted areas causes species to not come back, or to even die off. In a food chain, if one thing disappears, it messes with the whole system. Working in factories and not needing a college education works out great for half the

Factory, mill, and mining work in Britain may be very hazardous to one’s health, especially with regards to the health of children, according to reports by workers and medical experts. Harsh working conditions results in the poor health of workers as well as injuries.

I strongly believe that people should be educated about the December, 1907 3,000 coal mining deaths. In 2001 there were 42 coal mining deaths. All these deaths meant wives loosing husbands and sons. These deaths cause the lost of the bread winners in many house-holds; which, would later add to poverty and single parents.