Figure 1: Global distribution of uranium resources (NEA, 2016)

Among the endless pollutive impacts of mining activities to aquatic ecosystems, one of the issues which had caught my attention was radioactive pollution due to uranium mining. Uranium is said to be a common element found in small amounts in most rocks (WNA, n.d.).  With the advent of nuclear energy, the world has seen a rise in demand for uranium, where the specific uranium U-235 is used as fuel for nuclear reactors (National Geographic, 2023). Uranium can be harvested from rock such as uraninite or granite, with Kazakhstan, Namibia and Canada being the top producers of uranium due to their high uranium deposits (Fig.1) (WNA, 2022). The radioactive nature of uranium can lead to dire consequences on the environment during the mining process.

The tailings from uranium mining contains 85% of the original ore’s radioactivity and a wide range of heavy metals, with its improper disposal resulting in its leaching into groundwater and contamination of nearby water bodies (Waggitt, 1994).  The Allouga uranium mine in Egypt was found to have disposed mine tailings in surface impoundments, where heavy rainfall and seasonal floods were predicted to have dispersed radioactive pollutants (Tirone, 2022). In a study conducted by Ramadan et al. (2022), they discovered that the wadis and rock aquifers located nearby and at a lower altitude from the mines had displayed high levels of radionuclides. Areas close to the mines are populated by the indigenous Bedouin people, who rely on wadis as a water source.

Upon consumption, uranium acts as a carcinogen, causing cancers and kidney damage (Bersimbaev et al., 2015). In a study observing the health impacts of uranium mines on people in Kazakhstan, Bercimbaev et al. (2015) noted that years of drinking radionuclide-tainted water had caused the children living around the mines to experience urinary tract infections. With the decay of uranium producing inhalable radon, this creates a compounded effect on the local Kazakhstan population’s health (EPA, 2022). Additionally, radionuclide in contaminated aquatic wildlife bioaccumulates, posing a hazard to consumers (EPA, 2022).

In view of the pollutive effects of uranium mining on local populations and aquatic systems, nuclear energy may appear like a double-edged sword. On one hand it would relieve the world’s reliance on fossil fuels and its effects on climate change. On the other hand, if uranium mining is not managed properly, it can cause harm to large sectors of people. Hence it is imperative to improve regulations and management of uranium mining to minimise its disadvantages.

 

References:

Bersimbaev, R. I., & Bulgakova, O. (2015). The health effects of radon and uranium on the population of Kazakhstan. Genes and Environment, 37(1), 18–18.

EPA. (2022, July 5). Natural Radioactivity in Food. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved from: https://www.epa.gov/radtown/natural-radioactivity-food

EPA. (2022, July 5). Radionuclide Basics: Radon. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved from: https://www.epa.gov/radiation/radionuclide-basics-radon#:~:text=Radon%20is%20a%20radioactive%20gas,be%20found%20in%20ground%20water.

National Geographic. (2023, March 3). Nuclear Energy. National Geographic. Retrieved from: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/nuclear-energy/

NEA (Nuclear Energy Agency) (2016), Uranium 2016: Resources, Production and Demand, OECD Publishing, Paris. Retrieved from: https://www.oecd-nea.org/jcms/pl_15004

Ramadan, R. S., Dawood, Y. H., Yehia, M. M., & Gad, A. (2022). Environmental and health impact of current uranium mining activities in southwestern Sinai, Egypt. Environmental Earth Sciences, 81(7).

Tirone, J. (2022, November 15). Uranium Mining in Egypt is Expanding Despite Water Contamination, Satellite Images Show. Bloomberg. Retrieved from: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-15/water-poisoned-by-uranium-mining-in-cop27-host-egypt

Waggitt, P. (1994). A review of worldwide practices for disposal of uranium mill tailings. Department of Climate Change, Energy and Water. Retrieved from: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/science-research/supervising-scientist/publications/technical-memoranda/review-worldwide-practices-disposal-uranium-mill-tailings

WNA. (n.d.). How is uranium made into nuclear fuel? World Nuclear Association. Retrieved from: https://world-nuclear.org/nuclear-essentials/how-is-uranium-made-into-nuclear-fuel.aspx#:~:text=Uranium%20is%20found%20in%20small,Namibia%2C%20Niger%2C%20and%20Russia.

WNA. (2022, July). World Uranium Mining Production. World Nuclear Association. Retrieved from: https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/mining-of-uranium/world-uranium-mining-production.aspx