EPA doesn't think uranium is 'harmless'

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 10:34 AM EST

A most interesting letter to the editor was published in the Feb. 11, 2009, issue of the Star-Tribune from someone describing himself as having worked for a number of years as an inspector of uranium ore at Babcock and Wilcox.

He pronounced uranium mining to be safe and that the opposition to uranium mining in Pittsylvania County is merely "people are jealous of Mr. Coles and others owning the property."

On the Internet site of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency one finds this statement:

"Since 1879 when uranium mine workers began being diagnosed with lung diseases, such as cancer, regulators have gradually tightened controls.

Recently, officials also have become concerned with the broader impacts of uranium mining on public health and the environment."EPA further states: "The greatest health risk from large intakes of uranium is toxic damage to the kidneys, because, in addition to being weakly radioactive, uranium is a toxic metal.

Uranium exposure increases your risk of getting cancer because of its radioactivity. Uranium concentrates in specific locations in the body, thus risk of cancer of the bone, liver cancer, and blood diseases such as leukemia are increased. Inhaled uranium increases the risk of lung cancer.

"EPA also stated that "a small amount of the uranium in the bloodstream will deposit in a person's bones, where it will remain for years."Concerning uranium mining, EPA says: "Mines and mining wastes can release radionuclides, including radon, and other pollutants to streams, springs, and other bodies of water."

According to EPA, "You should never drink water from streams and springs near abandoned uranium mines.

"If this mining takes place, one day Coles Hill will be an abandoned uranium mine site.

EPA also says never take home from the site samples or rocks as souvenirs.

About milling of uranium, EPA stated: "Milling wastes or tailings contain several naturally-occurring radioactive elements, including uranium, thorium, radium, polonium and radon. They also contain a number of chemically hazardous elements, such as arsenic.

"The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency administers several Acts with the purpose of controlling these contaminants.

One is the Safe Drinking Water Act, which has established standards for combined radium 226/228; beta emitters; gross alpha standard; and uranium.The Clean Air Act, obviously, covers contaminants in the air, termed "Hazardous Air Pollutants," which lists radionuclides (including radon).

I think I believe the EPA on the dangers of uranium instead of the assertion by the gentleman about its harmlessness.

I will confess that I am jealous of the fact Mr. Coles owns this property because, if I owned it, I would tie it up in such a way that no mining of any kind whatsoever could ever take place on or under that land as long as the planet Earth existed.

A few billion dollars would never compensate my sense of guilt at destroying the lives of so many people and ruining a section of the country.

Also, to save the gentleman any possible embarrassment, let me say that though we share the same surname, there is no kinship and I have never met the gentleman.

Hildred C. Shelton
Danville