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Krugersdorp communities endangered by radiation from uranium mining

Tudor Informal Settlement in Krugersdorp is surrounded by land contaminated by mining activities and radioactive dumps.…..He also wants the communities living on these tailings to be relocated as a matter of urgency that all areas containing uranium contamination from mine residues are fenced off.

VIDEOS BusinessDay – Dangerous radiation levels endanger communities – expert (South Africa) Dangerous radiation levels endanger communities – expert, BusinessDay, , Professor Chris Busby, a world expert in uranium has tested mine dumps around Krugersdorp and warns that radiation levels are 15 times higher than normal LIVHUWANI MAMMBURU  2010/12/10 Radiation levels at the Tudor Shaft Informal Settlement in Krugersdorp have reached dangerous levels and the community must be urgently relocated.

That’s the view of Professor Chris Busby, a world expert in uranium and epidemiology speaking to Business Day.

He has warned that radiation levels are 15 times higher than normal.

Tudor Informal Settlement in Krugersdorp is surrounded by land contaminated by mining activities and radioactive dumps.

Mariette Liefferink, from the Federation for a Sustainable Environment says the residents of the squatter camp are exposed to high concentrations of cobalt, zinc, arsenic, and cadmium, all known carcinogens, as well as high levels of radioactive uranium.

She says the informal settlement was built on toxic and radioactive waste mine dumps.

Busby who is a member of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology and European Committee of Radiation Risk (ECRR) visited the Tudor Shaft Informal Settlement in November this year says he visited various sites and made measurement of beta/gamma radiation levels.

According to (ECRR) “high radiation levels leads to external exposure but also health risks from internal irradiation. It will not only cause cancers but also non-cancer illnesses, lens destruction, neurological illnesses, diabetes, immunologies and several other radiogenic illnesses as well as a risk factor for heart disease. “……….

“I recommend that the issue of radiation exposures to the public in this area is addressed properly and scientifically overseen by an independent committee of experts; it is quite clear from what I have seen in the area, that as a consequence of the existence of the contamination in the tailings and spoil heaps there is a serious level of radiation exposure involving uranium and its daughters which will have had and will have health implications,” says Prof Busby.

“I recommend that the ECRR risk model is employed in such an exercise. I recommend that an epidemiological study of cancer and genetic disease in those most exposed be carried out as a matter of urgency in order to see exactly what has happened and is happening as a result of these exposures,” he said.

He also wants the communities living on these tailings to be relocated as a matter of urgency that all areas containing uranium contamination from mine residues are fenced off.

BusinessDay – Dangerous radiation levels endanger communities – expert

December 11, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | environment, South Africa, Uranium