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The human consequences of uranium mining

“The most difficult part for the victims of uranium exposure is to prove that their symptoms are directly related to the work they were doing in those mines,” Hecht said. Due to this difficulty, workers do not receive any compensation.

Lecture tackles global uranium trade, The Brown Daily Herald. Alissa Haddaji, February 17, 2012 To understand the consequences of global uranium trade in Africa, the intricate interaction between political lobbying, government and human interests must be explored, said Gabrielle Hecht, professor of history at the University of Michigan, in a lecture hosted by the science and technology studies program Thursday.

The presentation — held in Smith-Buonanno 106 — was part of the program’s lecture series “Nothing Can Go Wrong: Rethinking Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century” and  introduced themes from Hecht’s forthcoming book, “Being Nuclear: Africans and the Global Uranium
Trade.” ….
Hecht said she talked directly with miners affected by long exposure
to dust from Gabon uranium mines as part of her research. One miner
exhibited respiratory symptoms and fatigue from his work in the mines,
she said, adding that there is no official government record
documenting this problem.
She has also focused part of her research on Rossing Uranium Mine in
Namibia, which can be seen as “the most controversial mine in this
world,” she said. And the problem is far from being solved, she added.
“The most difficult part for the victims of uranium exposure is to
prove that their symptoms are directly related to the work they were
doing in those mines,” Hecht said. Due to this difficulty, workers do
not receive any compensation.
Hecht also discussed the political implications linked to uranium extraction.
“Since 2004, the uranium mine number exploded in Namibia,” Hecht said.
Problems that stem from uranium extraction are directly related to
human behaviors, industrial interests and political lobbying. Since
the creation of the International Atomic Energy Agency in 1957, the
definition of uranium has changed several times, leading to changes in
the regulation of its production.
“In 1972, uranium (was) officially excluded from the list of nuclear
material from the (energy agency) after South Africa actively lobbied
for its exclusion,” Hecht said. This change led to growing extraction
of uranium due to reduced regulations. ….
http://www.browndailyherald.com/lecture-tackles-global-uranium-trade-1.2702431#.Tz8rSYfZ7_M

February 17, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | health, Namibia, Uranium