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Radioactive contamination, kidnappings, as uranium mining continues in Niger

shortcomings in the protection of workers against radiation, and increasing numbers of people living at Arlit or Akokan, a nearby town, cited this as the cause of their ill health…..uranium mining continues despite kidnappings

Safety concerns dog French uranium mines in Niger Still no sign of medical provisions Areva promised in 2009  Hervé Kempf * Guardian Weekly,   15 October 2010 For years uranium mining in Niger proceeded without giving rise to any major problems for companies, but things changed at the turn of the century. Since then the population of the mining town Arlit has become increasingly concerned that radioactivity may be exceeding regulatory limits.

Local residents contacted Criirad (Committee for independent research and information on radioactivity), a private laboratory in France, which carried out a series of measurements in 2003. Their report, published the following December, started a controversy that continues to plague Areva.

Criirad, assisted by the Sherpa group of lawyers, drew attention to several issues: it concluded that inadequate precautions were being taken to contain radioactive dust from the mines; there was a risk of groundwater contamination; radioactive scrap metal from machinery and trucks, which had been in contact with the ore, was being sold on local markets.

In addition there had been shortcomings in the protection of workers against radiation, and increasing numbers of people living at Arlit or Akokan, a nearby town, cited this as the cause of their ill health…..

uranium mining continues despite kidnappings

Safety concerns dog French uranium mines in Niger | World news | Guardian Weekly

October 16, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Niger, safety, Uranium | antinuclear, AREVA, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive