Chapter 16
Safety and Health in Uranium Mining and Milling
A,
Uranium mining
1,
There are about 1,000 uranium mines employing more than 5,500
miners in the U. S.
Principal uranium producing areas include the states of Utah,
Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico
Safety record to date
a.
Over half the domestic uranium mines have atmospheric concentrations of radioactive contaminants far above the levels
considered reasonably safe for industrial exposures
b.
55% of the mines employing 64% of the miners have concentrations more than five times the recommended maximum
permissible levels
Radioactive hazards
a.
Chief source of radiation in underground uranium workings
is daughter products of radon, a radioactive gas, as well
as radon itself
b.
Radon is emitted from the ore and water seepages and disperses throughout the atmosphere of the mine
e.
Radon and its daughter products deposit in the lungs and
bronchial tubes and emit alpha particles
d.
Harmful effects of overexposure may lead to cancer of the
lungs
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