Health Effects of Uranium Mining

Transcription

1 Health Effects of Uranium Mining Dr. Dale Dewar, MD, CCPF, FCFP Physicians for Global Survival Canada

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3 .La Loche

4 Point # 1 From the health perspective: Mining is messy Heavy metal mining is messier Radioactive heavy metal mining is messiest

5 Heavy metals cause: Encephalopathies Renal Failure Increased chance of illness during pregnancy. Harm to a fetus, including brain damage or death. Fertility problems (in men and women). High blood pressure. Digestive problems. Nerve disorders. Memory and concentration problems. Muscle and joint pain. Skin rashes and dermatitis; mood swings;memory loss; mental disturbances; and muscle weakness. In children: Nervous system and kidney damage. Learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, and decreased intelligence. Speech, language, and behavior problems. Poor muscle coordination. Decreased muscle and bone growth. Hearing damage. Seizures, unconsciousness, and death.

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7 Chemicals used in Uranium Mining: Ammonium carbonate and/or Sulphuric acid Manganese oxide (pyrolusite) and/or Hydrogen peroxide Ammonia

8 Other elements in the tailings: molybdenum, selenium, copper, iron (as pyrite), lead, nickel arsenic, mercury, manganese and cadmium.

9 Uranium Uranium Protactinium 234 Uranium Decay Chain Thorium 234 Thorium 230 Radium 226 Radon 222 Polonium 218 Pb (Lead) 214 Polonium 214 Polonium 210 Bismuth 210 Bismuth 210 Pb (Lead) 210 Pb (Lead) 206

10 Point # 2 The fox is minding the chicken coop. Decisions about the safety of radioactive elements are made by producers and suppliers

11 Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF) Convened by the US Atomic Energy Commission as the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission

12 International Committee on Radiation Protection (ICRP) Members: 13 countries which produce or depend upon the uranium market ALARA Principle: As Low As Reasonably Achieveable

13 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Conflict of Interest: Mandate: to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity

14 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and WHO WHO/IAEA Agreement (WHA12-40) of 28 May 1959

15 Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) Composed largely of former industry execs No independence from government! No health care person on the board

16 Point #3 Research on the effects of uranium mining is notable by its absence

17 What do we know? Uranium is an endocrine disrupter - mimics estrogen Causes renal disease at low levels is reversible

18 What do studies suggest? Combined cancers, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, bladder cancer, multiple myeloma, leukemia and congenital neural tube defects.

19 What do studies suggest? Genetic damage, birth defects and mental retardation due to in utero exposure

20 What do studies suggest? Life-shortening effect, and a role in some forms of immune system dysfunction, such as autoimmune disorders and decreased resistance to disease

21 What do studies suggest? Intracellular free radicals produce oxidative stress which cause atherosclerotic vascular disease, cardiovascular disease and diabetes

22 Updated Analysis of the Eldorado Uranium Miners' cohort: Part II of the Saskatchewan Miners' Cohort study, 2006 Dr. Geoffrey R. Howe

23 Uranium miners had a 30% higher rate of cancer than ordinary citizens. Of 17,660, some 5,960 had died of lung cancer by 2006.

24 Flaws in research: 1. Exposure to ionizing radiation is dependent upon industry self-reporting

25 Flaws in research: 1. Exposure to ionizing radiation is dependent upon industry self-reporting Germany - KiKK Studies: released in 2007, 2008 UK - COMARE studies: 1984 and 2005

26 Flaws in research: 1. Exposure to ionizing radiation is dependent upon industry self-reporting 2. Latency periods for the effects of radiation in producing cancer or chronic disease is very long The longest Port Hope study is ten years - Increases in hypertension, diabetes and cancer were insignificant.

27 Flaws in research: 1. Exposure to ionizing radiation is dependent upon industry self-reporting 2. Latency periods for the effects of radiation in producing cancer or chronic disease is very long 3. Use of populations too small to show statistical significance of rare diseases Increase in Downs Syndrome in a population of 1000 refinery worker fathers was insignificant.

28 4. Omission of vital pieces of information still births, abortions

29 4. Omission of vital pieces of information still births, abortions 5. Inclusion of data which dilutes the result

30 4. Omission of vital pieces of information still births, abortions 5. Inclusion of data which dilutes the result 6. Exclusion of key geographic areas

31 Teratogenic effects: Dr. Alice Stewart UK, 1950's Dr. Rosalie Bertell USA, 1960's Their combined efforts changed the ways in which x-ray exposures were permitted during pregnancy and the ways in which we shelter the gonads during radiation exposure.

32 Human Health Implications of Uranium Mining and Nuclear Power Generation Authors: Dr. Cathy Vakil M.D., C.C.F.P., F.C.F.P. Dr. Linda Harvey B.Sc., M.Sc., M.D. pgs.ca

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34 Heavy metals cause: Encephalopathies Renal Failure Increased chance of illness during pregnancy. Harm to a fetus, including brain damage or death. Fertility problems (in men and women). High blood pressure. Digestive problems. Nerve disorders. Memory and concentration problems. Muscle and joint pain. Skin rashes and dermatitis; mood swings;memory loss; mental disturbances; and muscle weakness. In children: Nervous system and kidney damage. Learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, and decreased intelligence. Speech, language, and behavior problems. Poor muscle coordination. Decreased muscle and bone growth. Hearing damage. Seizures, unconsciousness, and death.