How can uranium mining affect the environment?
Once mined, the uranium ore is trucked or pumped as slurry to the mill. At the mill, the ore is ground and mixed in either a highly acidic or alkaline solution to extract the uranium. The uranium is concentrated and dried into uranium oxides called yellowcake. Wastes left by the milling process consist of ground rock particles, water, mill chemicals, and radioactive and other hazardous contaminants, such as heavy metals. After milling, there is a risk of environmental contamination when trucks transport the milled uranium for further processing into nuclear fuel. The greatest risks to the environment are: • contamination of ground water and river systems with radioactive materials as well as heavy metals, acids, ammonia and salts; • leaks, spills, and catastrophic failures of pipelines and tailings ponds; • the spreading of radioactive dust, which finds its way into water, plants, animals, fish and humans; • releases of radon gas into the air, which will deposit radioactive fall-out on
