Question

Describe why the mining of uranium are often pollutes the local environment?

Answer 1

Uranium is a chemical element and is represented by symbol U. Atomic number of uranium is 92 having 92 protons and 92 electrons and is weakly radioactive and is a toxic metal.

Mining of uranium is the process of extraction of uranium ore from the ground.

One of the major effect on local environment from uranium mining is the production of RADON gas.

Extraction of uranium ore emits RADON gas. It is a radioactive gas which emits during the mining of uranium and diffuses into the air. In few areas it also get dissolved in ground water and can be released into the air when water is used. This radon gas decays quickly and gives tiny radioactive particles and when these radioactive particles are inhaled they can damage the cells that line the lung and leads to lung cancer. It also effects or brain by decreasing the performance on neurocognitive test(memory, attention , problem solving etc) and also causes vomiting and diarrhea.

After the extraction of uranium ore the tailings (tailings are the byproduct left after the extraction) are also highly toxic. one of the dangers that tailings cause in the contamination of ground water through the porous separating layer, erosion and seeping rainwater.

Another problem is large amount of water is required in uranium mining which generally laeds to scarcity(lack) of water. There are many areas where scarcity of water is a mojor problem.

Another problem is large amount of radioactive waste is generated which is often disposed in water or exposed in the environment and is very harmful for our flora and fauna(plants and wildlife). It has been reported that uranium has caused reproductive defects and other health problems in rodents, frogs and other animals. The radioactive waste which is generated contains particles like radium and pollutes our air in which we breathe and leads to air pollution.