Questions On Uranium And Uranium

An example is that nuclear power emits more energy than fossil fuels. In an article called “The Pro and Cons of Nuclear Power”, Jeremy Smith states that Uranium, which is used to make nuclear energy, can produce 20,000 times as much energy than fossil fuels (2011). This means that a small amount of Uranium would be used to make an abundant amount of energy. On the other hand, the process of acquiring the Uranium may be more dangerous that predicted. According to Jeremy Smith, uranium mining exposes workers to radium, a highly radioactive element, which then turns into radon gas. “Radon gas… can expose workers and nearby communities to an array of health risks like lung cancer, bone cancer and lymphoma” (Smith 2011). In conclusion, although uranium gives an immense amount of energy, it would not be worth it if thousands of workers become ill and possibly die.

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

Radium appears as a shiny, silvery metal of high radioactivity. Radium can be “used to treat prostate cancer that has spread to the bones,” and in the past, it was “used in luminous paints, for example in clock and watch dials” (Royal Society of Chemistry, 2017). Radium is present in the environment, and people that live in areas where coal or other fuels are burning and released into the air are more exposed to higher levels of radium. Radium can enter the body by breathing or swallowing and can remain in the body for months, only exiting in small amounts by urine and feces (“Public Health Statement for Radium,” 1990). High levels of radium exposure over a long period of time are extremely dangerous to the health of an individual. The harmful effects of radium could cause “anemia, cataracts, fractured teeth, cancer (especially bone cancer), and death” (“Public Health Statement for Radium,” 1990). The greater amount of radium exposure an individual receives, the greater their chance is to developing one of these diseases (“Public Health Statement for Radium,”

Although the amount of pollutants from a single town or construction site may seem insignificant, the combined concentrations of contaminants threaten our lakes, streams and wetlands. When things such as: human and animal waste, decaying plants and animals, discarded litter, or food waste enter surface waters, either dissolved or suspended in stormwater runoff, they can deplete the supply of dissolved oxygen in the water. When dissolved oxygen is reduced below a certain critical level, it can impair or kill aquatic plants and animals (CNYRPDB, 2011).

One significant advantage of nuclear energy through the mining of Uranium is its carbon neutral energy production property (3). However, during a meltdown or another catastrophe, Nuclear reactors have the capacity to release significant amounts of toxic radioactive isotopes, such as Strontium 90, Cadmium 113 and Caesium 137, which has the potential to cause significant harm to health (2) and biodiversity (11). Coal on the other hand is a well-documented releaser of greenhouse gasses, with one tonne of coal generating 2.6 tonnes of CO2 alone. Globally, this accounts for 6.4 billion tonnes of CO2 per year, with this value progressively increasing (5). Further, the use of coal in electricity production results in the release of particulates into surrounding areas. Particularly in third world and developing nations where regulation on pollution is lax, this causes major tangible health risks to those who live near the plants- a report by the World Health Organisation estimates that deaths directly related to outdoor pollution from Coal-based electricity generation amounts to approximately 2 million deaths per year

Naturally forming uranium undergoes radioactive decay by emission of an alpha particle and gamma radiation. As the decay continues, it releases radiation.This is an extreme health issue that, in large amounts, can cause cancer and liver damage.

The city of Waukesha was “pleased to report” that their water tested negative for everything but Radium and Gross Alpha. Radium is element number 88 on the periodic table and from the name, you can guess that this element is highly radioactive and can be very harmful to the human body. For starters, if radium is ingested and absorbed into the cells and tissues, it can and will start to deteriorate the surrounding tissues. Specifically, radium may cause problems in the immune system including anemia. Radium can cause cataracts and fractured teeth (from breaking down tissue, including bone tissue). High levels of radium have also been known to cause an increased risk in bone, liver, and breast cancers. Gross Alpha is a type of radiation that is released when any naturally occurring radioactive element changes to produce a “decay product”, such as radium. These decay products are formed after billions of years. Alpha radiation is everywhere, in our soil, air, and in our water. This is because or earth’s bedrock consists of varying amounts of radioactive elements. The alpha radiation also varies in our water, due to the water in deep aquifers or wells touching the bedrock; the water may contain the same or less than the same amount of elemental decay. Alpha radiation in drinking / ground water can be in the form of dissolved minerals, or as a gas

This gas can be found easily all over the United States in homes, schools, companies,etc. Did you know that the radioactive gas, radon has been found in every state? It is shocking, but still it is true. Therefore I think it would be a smart decision to have mandatory radon testing in schools. It would help us prevent kids from getting lung cancer in schools because of the poisonous gases. There are multiple ways that you can test for radon in a building. But one way would be by calling a qualified radon testers around your area. Many of you may ask, “Is radon a problem in Idaho,” and the answer to that is yes. As the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare state, “... there are many areas throughout Idaho that have high levels of radon.” Such places in Idaho like: Twin Falls with 23% radon, Jerome with 19%, Gooding with 28%,etc. So as we can tell places close to where we live are pretty low, but those percentages can increase over time, that’s only if we don’t take action. Knowing this I believe that we should have testings in schools to make sure that the kids aren’t in danger. This is why I think that it should be mandatory to have radon testings in

Even though the mining of uranium can cause environmental pollution, the power plant itself does not actually produce pollution. Yes, there is also nuclear waste we have to take care of, but it is stored in Yucca Mountain.On the contrary, people may be afraid of the nuclear waste having an accident while transporting it to the mountain, but it hasn’t happened yet. This is why we should help keep TMI open.

The growing demand for consumer goods, such as electricity, fuel for vehicles, plastics and petrochemical products, etc., threatens the biodiversity. It also threatens the ecosystems and effects the environmental health. Many Navajo people traveled to mines off the reservation seeking work and would often move their families with them in mine camps. The mineworkers, the only job that was available, were paid at an hourly wage was less than a dollar. The jobs included blasters, timber men, muckers, transporters, and millers. Other health hazards have emerged, in particular uranium mining. The hazards of uranium mining have caused serious respiratory disease and that other respiratory illnesses, including silicosis, tuberculosis, pneumonia, and emphysema, were causing deaths in uranium mineworkers at rates approaching those from lung cancer.

Whether or not uranium exposure can cause cancer is a popular question in the media. Many studies show that there is carcinogenic potential, but others have also shown that it is possible that it doesn’t cause cancer. There are two doses of uranium. One of them is chronic low dose. This dose means that it is below being able to detect adverse health effects. This dose can enter your body through drinking water [5]. Low level exposure to uranium for extended time can cause a “subclinical’ illness. This can increase the rates of carcinogenesis. Not very many diseases have been discovered from low dose exposure. The second dose of uranium, high dose exposure, is when uranium can cause a big effect on your body. This is not very common, and may

As of lately, alternative techniques have been becoming more popular. An example of this would be something called in-situ leach mining where leaching liquid (also referred to as solutions) are poured into deposits to dissolve the uranium. When mining uranium, you have a risk of getting lung cancer as you are basically inhaling uranium decay (Lenntech). When mining and/or milling, we release uranium. Tailings from those mines and/or mills can add more uranium in the environment which can be quite problematic (Institute for Energy and Environmental Research). For example, those tailings (which will mostly likely contain radioactive materials) can contaminate groundwater and has been proven to. Water samples that were nearby these tailing pipes were discovered to have so many materials or “contaminants” that it surpassed the government’s acceptable level for drinking water by hundreds (Institute for Energy and Environmental

The first reason why some people argue for greater restrictions on uranium mining is due to uranium has used for nuclear weapons production. According to International Journal of Environmental Studies (2006), nuclear power

1. There is a definite dark side to the periodic table. This has to do with the elements itself and the way people use it. There are several elements that are highly radioactive and explosive. For example uranium is an element that is very toxic to humans as it is radioactive. Because uranium is a radioactive element it is used in many nuclear weapons. Despite the fact that uranium is so dangerous we have found common uses for it. Uranium is used as counterweights for aircrafts and as ballasts for ships. A lot of answering this question is accounting for how we would use the elements. Yes, we can not control if an element is radioactive, but it is not necessary to be using these elements as atomic bombs and nuclear weapons. We are a big factor

When in fact it is dangerous if you are not extremely careful in controlling a reaction. Operating a reactor is summed up in the following. The reaction occurs and the uranium fuel becomes hot. Water is pumped through the core in tubes and that removes the heat. The water boils into steam. The steam turns two turbines which spin electrical generators. Then the water is cooled. All that the reactor really does is boil water to turn turbines which generate electricity.